
Team Motivation Clusters
By Arthur Carmazzi
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Team Motivation Clusters
By Arthur Carmazzi
Colored Brain Whitepaper
By Arthur Carmazzi
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Colored Brain Whitepaper
By Arthur Carmazzi
Study on Brain Psychology Awareness in Relation to Leadership Ability
By Arthur Carmazzi
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Study on Brain Psychology Awareness in Relation to Leadership Ability
By Arthur Carmazzi
The molecular genetic architecture of human personality: beyond self-report questionnaires
By RP Ebstein
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The molecular genetic architecture of human personality: beyond self-report questionnaires
By RP Ebstein
1Department of Psychology and Scheinfeld Center for Genetic Studies in the Social Sciences, Mount Scopus, Hebrew
University, Jerusalem, Israel and 2Research Department, S. Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
Molecular genetic studies of personality began with two high impact papers in 1996 that
showed provisional associations between the dopamine DRD4 exon III repeat region and
Novelty Seeking/Extraversion. These first two reports were shortly followed by an investigation
linking Neuroticism/Harm Avoidance with the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) promoter
region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). In the ensuing decade, thousands of subjects have been
studied for association between these genes and personality, assessed by using self-report
questionnaires, with erratic success in replication of the first findings for Novelty Seeking
(DRD4) and Harm Avoidance (5-HTTLPR). Small effect sizes characteristic of non-Mendelian
traits, polygenic patterns of inheritance and true heterogeneity between studies confound
attempts to reach a consensus regarding the role of common polymorphisms in contributing
to personality domains. Nevertheless, the current state of personality genetics is far from
being bleak. Several new paradigms especially functional neuroimaging or ‘imaging genomics’
have strengthened the connection between 5-HTTLPR and anxiety-related personality traits.
The demonstrations that early environmental information can considerably strengthen and
even uncover associations between genes and behavior (Caspi’s seminal studies and more
recently the demonstration that early environment impacts on DRD4 and Novelty Seeking) are
notable and herald a new era of personality genetics. Finally, consideration of the broader
phenotypic expression of common polymorphisms (e.g. the ‘social brain’, altruism, etc.) and
the use of new experimental paradigms including neurophysiological, neuropsychological and
computer games that go beyond the narrow self-report questionnaire design will enable a
deeper understanding of how common genetic polymorphisms modulate human behavior.
Human personality, defined by Webster as the quality or state of being a person or the complex
of characteristics that distinguishes an individual, surely requires a more encompassing view
towards understanding its complex molecular genetic architecture.
Molecular Psychiatry (2006) 11, 427–445. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001814; published online 14 March 2006