Relationship Between Functional Connectivity Of The Central Autonomic And Default Mode Networks And Personality In Healthy Young Adults

Background: There is solid evidence for the prominent involvement of the central autonomic and default mode networks in shaping personality.However,whether there is a correlation between the functional connectivity of these networks and individual personality is largely unknown.Therefore,the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between these functional network connections and personality directly.Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 215 healthy young adults were used to construct the sympathetic(SN),parasympathetic(PN),and default mode(DMN)networks,with intra-and internetwork functional connectivity measured.Five personality factors were assessed using the five-factor model.We examined the associations between personality factors and functional network connectivity,followed by performance of personality prediction based on functional connectivity using connectome-based predictive modeling(CPM).Results: All personality factors(neuroticism,extraversion,conscientiousness,and agreeableness)other than openness were significantly correlated with intra-and internetwork functional connectivity of the SN,PN,and DMN.Moreover,the CPM models successfully predicted conscientiousness and agreeableness at the individual level using functional network connectivity.Conclusion: With the help of functional magnetic resonance imaging,this study proves the relationship between functional connectivity of the central autonomic and default mode networks and personality,which may clarify the neural substrates underlying personality and help predict the individual personality.