The shape of your brain is linked to the shape your personality, study suggests

Personality traits such as moodiness or open-mindedness are linked to the shape of one’s brain, a study said Wednesday.

Researchers said they found a striking correlation between structural brain differences and five main personality types.

“The shape of our brain can itself provide surprising clues about how we behave - and our risk of developing mental health disorders,” said a statement from the University of Cambridge, which took part in the study.

Psychologists have previously developed a “Big Five” model of main personality types: neuroticism (how moody a person is), extraversion (how enthusiastic), open-mindedness, agreeableness (a measure of altruism) and conscientiousness (a measure of self control).

Using brain scans from over 500 people aged 22 to 36, the new study looked at differences in the cortex - the wrinkly outer layer of the brain also known as grey matter.

Specifically it focussed on combinations of thickness, surface area, and the number of folds in different people.