The Neuroscience of Personality presented at the Association for Psychological Type International Twin Cities chapter. 11-11-11.

1. Your Brain and You:
Indentifying Neural Correlates
in Psychological Type
Implications for Uncovering Personal
Potential and Coaching

2. What will my brain get out of this?
1. How does psychological type fit into the broader
context of brain science?
2. A review of some of the findings of Dr. Dario
Nardi from the 2011 APTi conference.
3. How to use the neuroscience of personality to
uncover personal potential and in individual
coaching

3. The Brain is Hip!
Discoveries made in the
1990’s and 2000’s have
revealed more about the
brain than was known for
the past several
centuries combined!
Everyone wants to know about me…

4. Prior to the advent of
functional neuroimaging,
many theories about brain
and behavior were based
on examining brain
damaged individuals.

5. Today’s Challenge for Psychologists
•Neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI, PET scan,
SPECT scan, MEG scan etc… have made it possible
to attach neurological data points to cognitive
theories about how the normal brain works
•Without such data, it is difficult to remain relevant
because this is an emerging trend that is likely to
continue!

6. New research from Dr. Dario Nardi,
a professor at UCLA suggests there
is certain types of EEG brain
activity associated with
psychological type.
One advantage of using EEG is that the
subject can move around and engage in a
variety of activities.

7. •EEG’s measure neocortical electrical activity along the
scalp
•Dario Nardi used 16 sites of attachment for his research

9. Brain activity associated with ENTP/ENFP personality types
leading to creativity but also burn-out and poor follow-thru.

13. Dario Nardi’s Key
Findings for Each of
the Eight Jungian
Cognitive
Processes:
(Dominant process listed in the following slides)

14. COGNITIVE SKILL SETS
EEG REGIONS
(DARIO NARDI, THE NEUROSCIENCE OF PERSONALITY)
Left side of brain Right Side of Brain
Fp1 Chief Judge Fp2 Process Manager
F7 Imaginative Mimic F8 Grounded Believer
F3 Deductive Analyst F4 Expert Classifier
T3 Precise Speaker T4 Intuitive Listener
C3 Factual Storekeeper C4 Flowing Artist
T5 Sensitive Mediator T6 Powerful Futurist
P3 Tactical Navigator P4 Strategic Gamer
O1 Visual Engineer O2 Abstract Impressionist
Fp=Pre-Frontal Lobe
F= Frontal Lobe T=Temporal Lobe C/P=Parietal Lobes O= Occipital Lobe

15. Extraverted Sensing
•Whole brain pattern is “tennis hop”: a low
level of overall cognitive activity to allow for
quick response in the moment
•Easily go into the Zone (all over blue EEG
pattern) in a crisis situation
•Are frequently bored. Show more brain
activity when looking out the window than
doing desk work.

16. Introverted Sensing
•Brain activity reflects their background, training
and expertise
•They have high levels of activity in T5 area:
attend to social feedback (note Si has respect
for protocol and social order)
•Active in T6 area “Consider the Future”. This
area corresponds to planning

17. Extraverted Intuiting
(ENTP, ENFP)
•Show the transcontextual brain activity or
“Christmas Tree Brain”
•Least likely of all types to have an overall
blue/zen or “flow state” unless activity is due to
expertise
•Regions that support imagination such as F7
“The Imaginative Mimic” area are seem in ENFP

18. Introverted Intuiting
(INFJ,INTJ)
•Often show a zen-like pattern. Overall blue
EEG.
•They show this state when asked a single
question or to envision the future
•Strong activity in the visual areas O1 and O2

19. Extraverted Thinking
(ESTJ, ENTJ)
•Show efficient use of mental energy
•Rely on 4 key regions: T3, O1, C3, and Fp1, all
in the left brain and focusing on hearing, seeing,
recalling, and deciding
•Female Te tend to show more diverse brain
activity and respond more to social feedback than
male Te

20. Introverted Thinking
(ISTP, INTP)
•Show high use of 4 regions that afford complex
logical reasoning: F3, F4, P3, and P4
•These 4 regions are nestled deep inside the
neocortex away from visual, auditory, or
kinesthetic distractions. Therefore able to
“detach”
•Sometimes show the tennis hop pattern (ISTP)

21. Extraverted Feeling
(ESFJ, ENFJ)
•Increased brain activity that focus on social
responsibility: Fp1 and T5
•Active in T3 which handle diction and grammar
•Show the least activity of all types in O1 and O2,
the visual areas
•ESFJ’s are more left-brained, ENFJ’s are more
right-brained

22. Introverted Feeling
(ISFP, INFP)
•Listen in an active, holistic way. When listening,
the EEG shows a solid bright blue color
suggesting that all areas of the neocortex are in
sync
•INFPs listen(and maintain this color on EEG) for
a longer period than ISFPs
•INFPs listen for connections and can show
“Christmas Tree Brain.”
•ISFP’s are attentive when others withhold info

23. How alike is the brain activity of 2 randomly selected people?
•There is a great chance
that randomly selected
people will share very
little of the same brain
activity
•Overall randomly
selected people share
33% the same but as
little as 5%

24. How alike are two individuals of the same type?
•When personality type is
the same, half the subjects
shared 70-90% of the brain
regions.
•The other half skew to the
middle range.

25. However...
20% will be atypical of
their type!
Possible reasons include:
context, gender,
physiology, education,
upbringing and influences
from deeper brain regions.
We are reminded people are more than their personality type!

26. Hypothetical Case Study:
ENFP
•Likely that EEG indicates
transcontextual thinking or
“Christmas Tree Brain”
•May be able to get “in the zone”
doing a rehearsed activity or doing
a task with expertise

27. Brain activity associated with ENTP/ENFP personality types
leading to creativity but also burn-out and poor follow-thru.

28. ENTP/ENFP is not likely to achieve this “flow” unless
engaged in a highly developed and practiced skill

29. •The Brain has a finite amount of
energy in the form of glucose
•Certain brain structures use more
energy than others
•There are ways to use energy more
efficiently

30. The PFC is heavily involved in
making decisions, prioritizing
and problem solving.
Due to the complexity of it’s
role, it uses a tremendous
amount of Energy.
However, the more
developed it is, the more
efficient it is.

31. Meditation is brain training
The brain is active!
Increases focus, mindfulness,
and cognitive flexibility
Can create awareness around
tendencies to be fearful, anxious,
“Just in case you’re wondering, I am not relaxing…”
or worried.
Meditation is often recommended for ENFP/ENTP types! Now
we know why it works!

32. The MORE information you can take out of working
memory and physically place on cards, idea boards,
notes etc… the more brain energy you have to work the
problem.

33. Ways to work with a “Christmas Tree
Brain”:
•Meditation (Builds awareness)
•Set daily objectives at the start of your
day
•Eliminate distractions
•Have a colleague help you stay on
task!

34. Know Your Brain!
•Familiarize yourself with the
type-related EEG patterns that
might be occurring in your own
brain
•As with all type-related
concepts, remember that
these are tendencies and not
absolutes.
But remember….

35. •The brain is neuroplastic and can
change and adapt to experiences.
•The pre-frontal cortex plays a critical
role in modulating behavior by
directing energy toward different
parts of the brain
Type is just one very important influence on
your personality!

36. To deepen your learning, Julius the Dog suggests:

37. The
Neuroscience
of Personality
By Dario Nardi
Newly released book discussing Dr. Nardi’s findings
as well as offering practical applications and coaching
tips.

38. Authors@Google: Dario Nardi
- Neuroscience of Personality
August 2011.
Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG
fhQTbcqmA
View Dr. Nardi discuss his findings. This presentation is similar
to the one given at the APTi 2011 conference

39. Neuroscience of Personality Certification Course
January 18-20, 2012
Dallas, Texas.

40. Contact Information:
Email: Annholm@Annholm.net
Websites: Annholm.net
QueenAnntics.net
Annholm.net
AnnholmNet
Ann Czajka Holm