PERSONALITY DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF THE ACTH 4-10 FRAGMENT ON TEST PERFORMANCES AND ON CONCOMITANT AUTONOMIC REACTIONS

The effect of the ACTH-fragment 4-10 (30 mg SC) on a mental performance test and on some concomitant cardiovascular changes was investigated in comparison with a placebo in a double blind cross-over study. The subjects were either mainly extraverted or mainly introverted according to Eysenck's 'Maudsley Personality Inventory'. Under the influence of the heptapeptide extraverted subjects achieved a higher total score in the mental task performance with a smaller increase of forearm blood flow and of heart rate than under the influence of the placebo. In contrast, under the influence of the placebo introverted subjects achieved a higher total score in the mental task performance with a smaller increase of forearm blood flow and of heart rate than under the influence of the ACTH-fragment. Personality, therefore, determines to some degree how this centrally acting heptapeptide influences efficiency in the mental task performance and the concomitant cardiovascular changes. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.