Correlation between psychological factors and the cerebellar volume of normal young adults

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between the cerebellar volume of normal adults in the third decade of life (20-29 years) and various psychological factors. The cerebellar volume of 118 subjects (mean age, 23 +/- 2.6 years), including 58 males (mean age, 24 +/- 2.8 years) and 60 females (mean age, 21.9 +/- 2.1 years), was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The following tests were performed on all subjects: the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), the Component of Type A Behavior, the State Anxiety Inventory from Korean YZ, the Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF), and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Using linear regression analysis, the relationship between cerebellar volume and psychological factors was analyzed. Without considering gender differences, as the tendency toward type A personality increased and the state of anxiety and superego strength increased, cerebellar volume decreased. As ego strength increased, cerebellar volume increased. When considering gender differences, as male phobic anxiety and ambition increased, cerebellar volume decreased. As female hostility, tenseness, and the state of anxiety increased, cerebellar volume decreased.