Taking risks to feel excitement: Detailed personality profile and genetic associations

This study mapped the personality and genetics of risky excitement-seekers focusing on skydiving behavior. We compared 298 skydivers to demographically matched controls across NEO Personality Inventory-3 domains, facets, 240 items. The most significant item-level effects were aggregated into a poly-item score skydiving-associated markers (Study 1), where higher scores describe individuals who enjoy situations but have no self-control issues. marker was associated with greater physical activity, rate traumatic injuries, better mental health in sample 3558 adults 2). From genetic perspective, we behavior 19 candidate variants that previously been linked excitement-seeking 1). Polymorphisms SERT gene strongest predictors skydiving, false discovery rate-adjusted (FDR-adjusted) p-values non-significant. In Study 2, predicted E5: Excitement-seeking from multiple risk-taking polygenic scores, using publicly available summary data genome-wide association studies. While strongly by general risk tolerance behaviors’ adventurousness scores. Phenotypic associations suggest is specific—perhaps more functional—form excitement-seeking, which may nevertheless lead injuries.