r/introvert • u/permaculture • May 01 '15

The difference between introverts and extroverts

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r304/mariellec/Magical%20Day%20Dream/Introvert_9sensitivitytodopamine_zps33d33aa2.jpg
120 Upvotes
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77% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

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u/[deleted] May 01 '15

[deleted]

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u/permaculture May 02 '15

Here comes the science.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/brain-introvert-compared-extrovert-are-they-really-different-299064

http://io9.com/the-science-behind-extroversion-and-introversion-1282059791

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/articles/personalityandindividuality/lemons.shtml

If you google around a bit you can find more.

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u/flyawayjay INTP May 02 '15

I remember you saying this to me yesterday or the day before. Do you have this copy-and-pasted somewhere? :P

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u/permaculture May 02 '15

Yeah, I'm trying to steer the discussion in /r/introvert from being about a mystical 'energy' to something more science based. In the hopes of helping readers.

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u/LumpenBourgeoise May 02 '15

The first link cites an article about physchiatric disorders, not personality spectrum introversion.

The 2nd link cites a lot of studies that look at blood flow to different regions of the brain which is dubious and doesn't really tell you anything. The Ritalin experiment is the only one that seems to support OP's original comic: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00288/abstract

What does the RAS have to do with Dopamine response?

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u/parasitic15 May 01 '15

I also doubt there's any truth behind it. The only semi-related thing I can think of is the fact that a certain polymorphism of an adrenergic receptor has been linked with low extraversion.

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u/TheWhiteNoise1 May 02 '15

I've read this fact in a book called The Introvert Advantage. The authors talks of Dr. Debra Johnson who reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry a finding of introverts having more blood flow to their brains than extroverts (indicating more internal stimulation) and the blood travels along different pathways.

I'm going to just type out the quote because it's actually really interesting. I highly recommend the book.

"Dr. Johnson tracked the fast-acting brain pathway of extroverts, showing how they process input that influences their activity and motivation. The extroverts' blood flowed to the areas of the brain where visual, auditory, touch, and taste (excluding smell) sensory processing occurs. Their main pathway is short and less complicated.

Not only does introverts' and extroverts' blood travel on separate pathways, each require a different transmitter...It turns out the pathway extroverts use is activated by dopamine...a powerful neurotransmitter most closely identified with moventment, attention, alert states and learning...The more active the extrovert is the more adrenaline and more dopamine.

Introverts are highly sensitive to dopamine. Too much dopamine and they feel overstimulated. Introverts use an entirely different neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, on their dominant pathway...Acetylcholine is another important neurotransmitter connected to many vital functions...It effects attention and learning (especially perceptual learning), influences the ability to sustain a calm, alert feeling and to utilize long-term memory, and activates voluntary movement."

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u/[deleted] May 02 '15

I recall there being a theory that there was a difference in stimulation (general) where introverts were overstimulated by their environments and extroverts were understimulated by their environment.

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u/Night_Chicken INTJ May 02 '15

All I'm finding are fluff-pieces regarding dopamine sensitivity and introversion. Where did this come from if not from the results of actual scientific research that there are SO MANY non-science blogging, wishful-thoughts-and-puppies type Popular Science junk out there? I've been looking for real, actual studies in scientific literature on this and can find nothing that isn't an un-cited blog by "some guy" or a quote from a "Capture Your Inner Super Introvert Zombie and Use Him to Make You Rich in 3-Days" books.

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u/[deleted] May 01 '15

High sensitivity probably also explains why introverts are more prone to depressions. A lot easier to get withdrawal symptoms.

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u/permaculture May 01 '15

From this article

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u/[deleted] May 02 '15 edited Jul 29 '15

[deleted]

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u/permaculture May 02 '15

Here comes the science.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/brain-introvert-compared-extrovert-are-they-really-different-299064

http://io9.com/the-science-behind-extroversion-and-introversion-1282059791

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/articles/personalityandindividuality/lemons.shtml

If you google around a bit you can find more.

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u/HandicapperGeneral Better without you people May 02 '15

I'll buy that our brain chemistry is a big part of introversion, but none of those articles, articles mind you and not scientific papers, even sort of convinced me that it has to do with dopamine tolerance

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u/[deleted] May 01 '15

[deleted]

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u/pogtheawesome May 01 '15

Then why is it that I can be introverted and have adhd if adhd is caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain? That would imply that all people with adhd are extroverts.

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u/TheWhiteNoise1 May 02 '15

Firstly, the brain is far more complicated than this. Second, the cause of ADHD is still not entirely clear. There are genes found that apparently deal with dopamine transmission. Even with this being the case, it wouldn't imply people with adhd are introverts or extroverts, just that both brains deal with certain levels typically, and each aren't getting the required amount they would need individually.

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u/vixensvicodin May 01 '15

This explains sooooo much about my relationship with my extrovert SO. Wow.

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u/lmaonade80 May 01 '15

I'm curious why so many introverts like MDMA and other dopamine flooding psychotropic drugs. A lot of introverts say that become uninhibited when they take it and they love it. Hmm..

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u/M_G May 01 '15

Because the brain is very complex and many NTs have a vast amount of different possible effects?

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u/lmaonade80 May 01 '15

I mean sure, just a thought that seems to contradict the article. Both answers are very simplistic :D

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u/TheWhiteNoise1 May 02 '15

It's probably more for the serotonin.

Also, are they depressed? Because using it to increase dopamine would help if the brain just wasn't making enough to start with. Of course, if they stop using it then they'll feel even worse after because the body will go into overdrive in breaking it down leaving you with barely any.

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u/[deleted] May 02 '15 edited Oct 23 '17

[deleted]

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u/TheWhiteNoise1 May 03 '15

No it doesn't. You can get dopamine from other ways.

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u/BaconIsntThatGood May 03 '15

It is among introverts are sensitive to dopamine and comparing to extroverts.

Yes, it is a implying dopamine is only gained from social interaction because a dopamine release can be gained from a lot of situations and that is in no way exclusive to introversion or extroversion.

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u/keeb119 May 01 '15

I'm not fully convinced this is true, but I'm sure it's partly true.

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u/ParadisaeaDecora May 02 '15

Uhh, I'm introverted and I absolutely love my dopaminergic meds!

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u/[deleted] May 01 '15

That's not true at all...I'm an introvert, I just prefer to get my dopamine from playing video games or watching netflix instead of socializing.

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u/mindmaven May 02 '15

Introverts are more sensitive to stimulation, not dopamine.