| Abstrakt: |
Developments in neo-Pavlovian temperament theory and research during the past two decades are reviewed. Two major research orientations can be distinguished in this field. The first, and historically the older, has centred round a search for operational definitions and measures of parameters of reflexive behaviours, both conditional and unconditional, which collectively describe dimensions of variation in higher nervous activity in human beings. Ten primary, and five secondary properties are described, together with associated measurement techniques, and correlated individual differences in performance in a variety of situations and tasks. Evidence for the heritability of these properties is also surveyed. The second, and more recent trend, has drawn on evoked electroencephalographic data to support a model describing general temperament features of activity and emotionality, mediated, respectively, by activation of fronto-reticular and fronto-limbic cortical connections. By contrast with the highly specific and reflexive influences of nervous system properties on behaviour, activity and emotionality contribute to style of self-regulation of voluntary, effortful behaviour across a broad range of contexts. It is suggested that future developments in this field will concentrate increasingly on brain-behaviour relationships in such voluntary action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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