Shyness May Be Rooted in Brain Processing

[Caitlin.ann]

SATURDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Because their brains process the world around them in a different way, introverted or shy people respond differently to physical and emotional stimuli than other people, according to a new study.

About 20 percent of people are "highly sensitive," an inborn trait that can be seen in children who are reserved, need little disciplining, cry easily, ask unusual questions or have especially deep thoughts, explained Elaine and Arthur Aron and colleagues from Stony Brook University in New York and in China.

Adults who are highly sensitive tend to take longer to make decisions, are more conscientious, spend more time alone to reflect and are more easily bored by small talk, the study authors noted.

The researchers used functional MRI to scan the brains of sensitive and non-sensitive people as they tried to identify small changes in photographs. The changes that the study participants tried to identify were either obvious or subtle.

Link (http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/hd/9915)

[Kraheera]

Oddly, I think that most of this was common sense. Is that bad?

[Toriach]

Oddly, I think that most of this was common sense. Is that bad?

That even when something is common sense, said common sense is still merely anecdotal. This backs common sense with research.

[ShadowcatX]

Dog gone it. If they'd said shyness was an indicator of higher than average intelligence, that'd be cool, I could go bragging about how shy I am. LOL.

[Cielamara]

Adults who are highly sensitive tend to take longer to make decisions, are more conscientious, spend more time alone to reflect and are more easily bored by small talk, the study authors noted.

That makes sense. Perfect sense.

[SavyrnGate]

I love when science validates my insecurities. My feeble social interactions simply mean I'm more special than you! Take that, society!

Please don't hit me, my bones are made of cracker boxes.

[Flaire-FireStar]

bah. Who needs to talk when you can think. :p

[tapestry]

SATURDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Because their brains process the world around them in a different way, introverted or shy people respond differently to physical and emotional stimuli than other people, according to a new study.[/URL]

So wait, this is to imply that extroverts are the baseline by which the shy people are measured "different". As one of those who vibrates in a unique way I'd like them to reverse that.:uhhuhuh: Maybe the extroverts are different, and they process things in an odd way. Yes, I like that much better.:hahugh:

[Caitlin.ann]

I still haven't decided where I fit in this baseline. I am incredibly shy, but I can FORCE it if I have to and do well in social situations..if I HAVE to. I have been shy my entire life, but when it comes to the net or people I know I'm the opposite.

[Erebos]

About 20 percent of people are "highly sensitive," an inborn trait that can be seen in children who are reserved, need little disciplining, cry easily, ask unusual questions or have especially deep thoughts, explained Elaine and Arthur Aron and colleagues from Stony Brook University in New York and in China.

Adults who are highly sensitive tend to take longer to make decisions, are more conscientious, spend more time alone to reflect and are more easily bored by small talk, the study authors noted.

Sounds exactly like me. I thought I was just weird, but I guess I'm actually special :alol:

[Caitlin.ann]

Sounds exactly like me. I thought I was just weird, but I guess I'm actually special :alol:

Everyone is "special"...except for me.:toofless: