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Cited by 40Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPersonality Traits and PsychologyEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Dopamine genes are linked to Extraversion and Neuroticism personality traits, but only in demanding climates

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Fischer, Ronald, Lee, Anna, Verzijden, Machteld N.·2018·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-18784-yPMC PMC5789008
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Abstract

Cross-national differences in personality have long been recognized in the behavioural sciences. However, the origins of such differences are debated. Building on reinforcement sensitivity theories and gene-by-environment interactions, we predict that personality trait phenotypes linked to dopaminergic brain functions (centrally involved in reward processing) diverge most strongly in climatically stressful environments, due to shifts in perceived rewards vs risks. Individuals from populations with a highly efficient dopamine system are biased towards behavioural approach traits (Extraversion and Emotional Stability) due to higher perceived reward values, whereas individuals from populations with a less efficient dopaminergic system are biased towards risk avoidance. In temperate climates, we predict smaller phenotypic differences due to overall weakened reward and risk ratios. We calculated a population-level index of dopamine functioning using 9 commonly investigated genetic polymorphisms encoding dopamine transporters and receptors, derived from a meta-analysis with data from 805 independent samples involving 127,685 participants across 73 societies or territories. We found strong support for the dopamine gene by climatic stress interaction: Population genetic differences in dopamine predicted personality traits at the population level in demanding climates, but not in temperate, less demanding climates, even when controlling for known correlates of personality including wealth and parasite stress.

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  • Dopamine-related genes and levels of dopamine predict variation in personality traits.

    “Findings generally show that dopamine‐related genes and levels of dopamine predict variation in personality traits (Chen et al., 2011, 2012; Fischer et al., 2018; Wacker & Smillie, 2015)”

    From Systematic reviews of the acute effects of amphetamine on working memory and other cognitive performances in healthy individuals, with a focus on the potential influence of personality traits (2023) · cites this paper as Fischer et al., 2018

    The Results report that a dopamine-related genetic index was associated with Extraversion and Neuroticism, but only in climatically demanding environments. The Introduction also reports experimental links between dopamine activity and personality differences. The paper does not establish that measured dopamine levels predict personality traits, and the citing sentence omits the climatic qualification on its genetic finding. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Fischer, R., Lee, A., & Verzijden, M. N.
Affiliations
  • Victoria University of Wellington (NZ)
  • Aarhus University (DK)
Corresponding author
Fischer, Ronald
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-01-29
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
1733-1733
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-017-18784-y
PMC
PMC5789008
OpenAlex
W2803505753
Cited by
40
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2
FWCI
0.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus Universitet
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
dopamine genes, personality traits, extraversion, neuroticism, climate stress, gene-environment interaction, Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, parasite stress, wealth
MeSH terms
Neuroticism, Brain, Climate, Environmental Exposure, Extraversion, Psychological, Humans, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptors, Dopamine, Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Dopaminergic Neurons

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