Association Between the Visual N1-P2 Complex and Neuroticism

Neuroticism is a personality trait associated with impaired attention, memory, and error detection. Thus, the present study investigated the visual N100 and P200 event-related potentials components associated with attention using a 2-back working memory task in healthy neurotic and nonneurotic participants, evaluated using the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness Five Factor Inventory. A total of 35 healthy participants were asked to perform the 2-back task while recording electroencephalographic activity from 64 electrodes on the scalp. Analysis of the N100 and P200 amplitude and latency in high neuroticism and low neuroticism subjects showed an increased P200 amplitude and latency for high neuroticism subjects in the frontal and parietal regions, respectively. However, there were no significant performance differences between the high and low neuroticism subjects for the 2-back working memory task. Therefore, the results suggest that neuroticism is associated with the P200 component elicited in the context of a working memory task.