Associations between Extraversion and Working Memory: A facet-level correlational research

Abstract

Background: Empirical findings on the Extraversion – Working memory (WM) correlation don’t seem to point to a relation between them, even though this relation is widely expected to emerge due to the neurophysiological underpinnings they seem to share. On previous research, Extraversion was assessed mostly at factor level, excluding the facets. In case there was a connection between WM and few specific facets of Extraversion, it could have been overshadowed by those which don’t take part on it. Thus, the aim of this study is to seek for significant facet-level Extraversion – WM correlations. Method: WM performance and Extraversion were assessed in a sample of 87 participants using a 2 n-back task and six facet-level Extraversion scales of the International Personality Item Pool. Results: Significant correlations emerged between facet E1 (Friendliness) and efficacy (error rate), and between E3 (Assertiveness) and efficiency (median reaction time) in the WM test. Conclusions: The friendliest and most assertive people tended to show a slightly worse WM performance than the ones with lower scores on such facets. Thus, WM doesn’t seem to be related with Extraversion, but with only two of its indicators.