Skip to main content
Log in

A Coronary-Prone Type of Personality: Peculiarities of Event-Related EEG Potentials

  • Published:
Neurophysiology Aims and scope

In a group of 70 adults of both sexes, we examined interrelations between the estimates of expression of a coronary-prone type (type A) of the personality (measured using the Jenkins questionnaire) and the parameters of event-related EEG potentials (ERPs). The latter potentials were recorded in the course of performance of two behavioral test tasks including motor components. Within the framework of the “A” task, the subject is had to maximally rapidly push the button after a signal with warning (with measurement of the latency of the sensorimotor reaction); under these conditions, we recorded the contingent negative variation (CNV) and P300 potential. In the case of the “B” task, a definite time interval was to be measured and limited by two pressings of the button. In this task, the readiness potential (RP) was recorded in addition to the CNV and P300. The C3 and C4 EEG leads (according to the 10–20 system) were used. Within the framework of the “A” task, subjects belonging to the coronary-prone type were characterized by the lowest amplitudes of the CNV and its separate components and also by greater amplitudes and relatively long latencies of the P300 wave. Persons of type B were distinguished by the highest CNV amplitudes in both hemispheres, while values of the P300 amplitude in this group were usually medium. In the “B” task, representatives of type A demonstrated the lowest RP and P300 amplitudes, especially clearly pronounced negative CNVs in the left hemisphere, and relatively long P300 latencies; individuals belonging to type B showed the highest RP and CNV amplitudes in the right hemisphere and medium values of the P300 amplitude. The correlations found are probably due, to a considerable extent, to the fact that both characteristics of the behavioral types A and B and amplitude parameters of ERPs depend significantly on genetically determined neurochemical factors, namely specificities of organization and functioning of a few neurotransmitter (in particular, aminergic) and neurohumoral systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. H. Rosenman and M. Friedman, “Modifying type A behavior pattern,” J. Psychosom. Res., 21, No. 4, 323–331 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. J. Denollet, “Biobehavioral research on coronary heart disease: where is the person?” J. Behav. Med., 16, No. 2, 115–137 (1993).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. É. M. Routman, Evoked Potentials in Psychology and Psychophysiology [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ch. Shagas, Evoked Potentials in the Norm and Pathology [in Russian], Mir, Moscow (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  5. I. N. Konareva, “Peculiarities of EEG in subjects with coronary-prone (type A) behavior,” Neurophysiology, 42, No. 4, 286–293 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. I. N. Konareva, Individual Peculiarities of Event-Related EEG Potentials in Humans [in Russian], Abstr. of Cand. Thesis, Biol. Sci., Simferopol’ (2001).

  7. I. E. Kanunikov, “Contingence negative wave (CNV) as an electrophysiological manifestation of mental activity. Communication II. Psychophysiological significance and neurogenesis of the CNV,” Fiziol. Cheloveka, 6, No. 3, 520–530 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  8. C. H. M. Brunia and E. J. P. Damen, “Distribution of slow potentials related to motor preparation and stimulus anticipation in a time estimation task,” Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol., 69, No. 3, 234–243 (1988).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. J. P. Abrahams and J. E. Birren, “Reaction time as a function of age and behavioral predisposition to coronary heart disease,” J. Gerontol., 28, No. 4, 471–478 (1973).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. R. E. de Meersman, “Personality, effort perception and cardiovascular reactivity,” Neuropsychobiology, 19, No. 4, 192–194 (1988).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. B. I. Kochubei, Psychophysiology of Personality (Physiological Approaches to Studying an Active Subject) [in Russian], VINITI, Moscow (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  12. R. T. Pivik, R. M. Stelmack, and F. W. Bylsma, “Personality and individual differences in spinal motoneuronal excitability,” Psychophysiology, 25, No. 1, 16–24 (1988).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. E. J. P. Damen and C. H. M. Brunia, “Changes in heart rate and slow brain potentials related to motor preparation and stimulus anticipation in a time estimation task,” Psychophysiology, 24, No. 6, 700–713 (1987).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Furnham, A. Hillard, and C. R. Brewin, “Type A behavior pattern and attributions of responsibility,” Motiv. Emot., 9, No. 1, 39–51 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. D. C. Glass, “Psychological and physiological responses of individuals displaying type A behavior,” Acta Med. Scand., Suppl. 660, 193–202 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  16. M. J. Strube and C. L. Lott, “Time urgency and the type A behavior: implications for time investment and psychological entrapment,” J. Res. Pers., 18, No. 3, 395-409 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. D. J. Warner and R. A. Block, “Type A behavior and temporal judgment,” Bull. Psychonom. Soc., 22, No. 3, 163–166 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. N. Konareva.

Additional information

Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 424–432, September-October, 2010.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Konareva, I.N. A Coronary-Prone Type of Personality: Peculiarities of Event-Related EEG Potentials. Neurophysiology 42, 354–361 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-011-9169-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-011-9169-5

Keywords

Navigation