Personality: Neurobehavioural Foundation and Pharmacological Protocols

Personality represents the structuring of human behavior into major traits that reflect the activity of (1) motivational-emotional systems and (2) their underlying neurobiological networks. There is consensus on the existence of four major traits: extraversion, neuroticism, social closeness or agreeableness, and constraint or conscientiousness. We describe the psychological features of these four traits, and how pharmacological protocols have aided in defining their underlying neurobiology. Discussion of the relation of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH), and mu-opiate functioning within specific brain regions to the four major traits is provided.