Openness and extraversion are associated with reduced latent inhibition: replication and commentary

Latent inhibition (LI) is a preconscious gating mechanism that allows animals with complex nervous systems to ignore stimuli previously experienced as irrelevant. Decreased LI has been associated with dopaminergic agonist intoxication and schizophrenic conditions. We previously demonstrated reductions in LI among individuals characterized by higher levels of trait Openness and Extraversion. This study replicates our previous findings, using another university student sample (Total N=79). Participants characterized by decreased LI (N=23) were significantly more Open (Mean=36.7, S.D.=5.4; N=23) and Extraverted (Mean=31.4, S.D.=7.1) than those who manifested intact LI (N=54; Openness Mean=33.7, S.D.=7.1, t=1.80, P<0.04, d=0.44; Extraverted Mean=28.2, S.D.=6.6, t=1.85, P<0.04, d=0.46). The two groups were better differentiated, however, by the simple additive combination of z-scored Extraversion and Openness, deemed Plasticity (P<0.01, d=0.57). Differences between the two groups also emerged with regards to Gough’s Creative Personality Scale [J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 37 (1979) 1398], with the Low LI group scoring higher than the High LI group (P<0.03, d=0.46). # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.