ИСТИНА

Temperament is generally viewed as a set of stable properties that determine major "formal" characteristics of mental processes and behaviour. Currently there is still no general agreement on what principal dimensions of temperament are, and a number of temperament questionnaires based on different sets of dimensions exist. Importantly, dimensions from various questionnaires are often intercorrelated even though the questionnaires are often based on diverse theoretical grounds. This fact implies that existing questionnaire dimensions actually represent different aspects of one and the same complex multidimensional entity. This study involved two attentional auditory experimental models – the oddball task and the condensation task (30 and 51 participants respectively). Event-related potentials were measured and analyzed in relation to temperament dimensions according to EPI (Eysenck, 1982; Shmelyov, 2002), STI (Strelau et al., 1990), STQ (Rusalov, 1990, 2002), and NEO-FFI (Costa, McCrae, 1995) questionnaires. In line with other studies, we found that Extraversion (both EPI and NEO-FFI) had significant correlations with both Strength of Excitation and Mobility of Nervous Processes (STI) – i.e. both the intensity and temporal aspects of temperament. Besides, Extraversion was related to the amplitude of the N1-P2 complex similar to Mobility of Nervous Processes, and also it was related to N2 latency similar to Social Ergonicity (STQ). These interconnections suggest that Extraversion tends to be associated with both the intensity and temporal aspects of temperament and probably affects at least two separable processes involved in attention and perception. Of special interest are participants with "discordant" sets of temperament dimensions falling outside of the common correlational pattern between questionnaires. Supposedly, these individuals underwent a strong environmental pressure unaccounted within temperament questionnaires (Ramendik 2011; Ramendik et al., 2014). These participants had significant differences from the rest of the population, including higher amplitude of the N2-P3 complex. Also, in participants with "discordant" sets of dimensions N1 amplitude was significantly reduced on trials with erroneous responses compared to trials with correct responses. These findings point to the importance of using a multidimensional psychophysiological approach in the studies of temperament.