Extraversion and Motor Response Initiation

Abstract

This article explores the contribution of differences in motor response initiation and execution to the biological bases of extraversion. Specifically, we examined individual differences in the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) for introverts and extraverts under conditions influencing stimulus evaluation time prior to response execution, i.e., stimulus information value and tonal complexity. The salient effects were longer stimulus-locked LRP and shorter response-locked LRP for extraverts than introverts to simple imperative stimuli to respond. The present studies (1) confirm that extraverts initiate movement faster and are less efficient than introverts in the processing of simple stimulus signals to respond and (2) endorse the view differences in sensory-motor processing are important determinants of variation in Extraversion.