Introversion and working memory: central executive differences

The relationship between introversion and working memory was tested. Prior studies have either not focused directly on working memory or have focused only on the storage component of working memory. Neuroanatomical and neurochemical relationships between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the reticular formation suggest that the executive component of working memory is the most likely to differ across introverts and extraverts. Using Sternberg's [Sternberg, S. (1975). Memory scanning: new findings and current controversies, Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 27, 1-32.] memory scanning paradigm, which taps the central executive component of working memory, results indicate that introverts are slower than extraverts in comparing the contents of working memory to an external target. Social psychological consequences of this central executive difference in working memory are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.