Positive association between neuroticism and working memory in healthy female volunteers

Objectives. Neuroticism is an important personality trait that is often associated with mental disorders. It has been reported that lower levels of neuroticism are associated with better cognitive function later in life; however, the concurrent association is unclear. Methods. A total of 184 healthy participants, 84 males and 100 females, completed the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised version and the 24-item neuroticism subscale of the Maudsley personality inventory. Results. The neuroticism score was found to be positively associated with verbal memory, general memory, and delayed recall, particularly among healthy females, independent of the effect of age. Conclusion. The mechanisms of this association remain to be elucidated. Clinicians should pay additional attention to this phenomenon.