A new study shows that the level of creatine combined with its energy storing form, phosphocreatine, in brain positively correlated with the personality trait of self directedness.

According to the authors so far such a biochemical basis for personality traits has not been established and this is the first study reporting associations of brain metabolites with personality traits in adolescents.

The study was conducted on a group of 26 adolescents aged between 13 and 21 years old. They were screened negative for behavioral, emotional, psychiatric or neurological disorders.

The researchers used a technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify brain metabolites such as creatine with phosphocreatine, glycerophosphocholine plus phosphocholine, myo-inositol, glutamate and NAA in a specific brain area called anterior cingulate cortex. They found that phosphocreatine with creatine significantly predicted self directedness, and negatively predicted self-transcendence. They also observed that glycerophosphocholine plus phosphocholine and myo-inositol negatively correlated with self-transcendence.

Creatine and phosphocreatine play a key role in brain energy metabolism. Phosphocreatine is also known as creatine phosphate. Phosphocreatine is a readily available high energy storage molecule. During high energy demand when ATP is depleted, phosphocreatine can convert ADP to ATP. ATP is the usable form of high energy storage. Phosphocreatine has an important role in maintaining ATP levels in brain. It may be be noted that previous studies have shown that creatine supplementation has positive effect on working memory and intelligence. Phosphocreatine also have a neuroprotective role.

Authors state that "understanding the biological mechanisms building personality traits may provide new insight on the mechanisms of drug action, which may ultimately lead to more rapid and effective treatments of personality disorders."

The results of the study have great relevance to environmental and dietary influence on personality traits. Furthermore, determining the biochemical basis of personality trait may allow manipulation of biochemical balance to alter personality traits.

The study was published this month in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.