Changing the General Factor of Personality and the c-fos Gene Expression with Methylphenidate and Self-Regulation Therapy

[EN] A deepening in the biological nature of the general factor of personality (GFP) is suggested: the activation level of the stress system is here represented by the gene expression of c-fos. The results of a single case experimental design are reported. A model of four coupled differential equations that explains the human personality dynamics as a consequence of a single stimulant drug intake has been fitted to psychological and biological experimental data. The stimulant-drug conditioning and its adaptation to the considered mathematical model is also studied for both kinds of measures. The dynamics of the cfos expression presents a similar pattern to the dynamics of the psychological measures of personality assessed by the GFP-FAS (Five-Adjective Scale of the General Factor of Personality) as a consequence of a single dose of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). The model predicts similar dynamic patterns for both psychological and biological measures. This study proves that describing mathematically the dynamics of the effects of a stimulant drug as well as the effects of a conditioning method on psychological or subjective variables and on gene expression is possible. It verifies the existence of biological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the General Factor of Personality (GFP).[ES] Este artículo estudia la naturaleza dinámica del Factor General de Personalidad (FGP) en respuesta a una dosis única de metilfenidato a partir de un diseño experimental de caso único con replicación. Para medir el FGP, se emplean tanto medidas psicológicas (Escala de Cinco Adjetivos del Factor General de Personalidad; ECA-FGP), como un marcador biológico (propuesto como substrato biológico del FGP) que es la concentración del gen c-fos en los linfocitos de la sangre. También se estudia el condicionamiento de los efectos subjetivo y biológico del metilfenidato con una técnica de sugestión y condicionamiento, denominada terapia de auto-regulación. Por último, se propone un modelo matemático de cuatro ecuaciones diferenciales acopladas que explican la dinámica del FGP como consecuencia de una ingestión de droga estimulante y del condicionamiento de la droga, ajustadas a los datos experimentales psicológicos y biológicos. Los resultados muestran un patrón dinámico similar para ambas medidas psicológicas y biológicas del FGP en respuesta tanto a una dosis de metilfenidato como al condicionamiento con terapia de auto-regulación.Así, se evidencia que es posible la formulación matemática de la dinámica del FGP y sus correlatos biológicos, como el gen regulador c-fos, y su condicionamiento mediante la terapia de auto-regulación.Micó Ruiz, JC.; Amigó Borrás, S.; Caselles Moncho, A. (2012). Changing the General Factor of Personality and the c-fos Gene Expression with Methylphenidate and Self-Regulation Therapy. Spanish Journal of Psychology. 15(2):850-867. doi:10.5209/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n2.38896850867152Volkow, N. 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