The brains of introverts look and react differently than the brains of extroverts. The key differences: The prefrontal cortex. Introverts have a thicker prefrontal cortex than extroverts, which means they have more tissue in the area of the brain associated with deep thought and decision-making.
Introverts Have More Gray Matter
Finally, a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that introverts had larger, thicker gray matter in their prefrontal cortex — the area of the brain associated with abstract thought and decision-making. Extroverts had thinner gray matter in that same area.
An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.
However, our research at Bandelli & Associates has found that introverts often possess greater levels of Relational Intelligence than extroverts do. Relationally intelligent introverts are often highly self-aware, observant, and are excellent listeners.
Introverts are more likely to have a dominance of their right brain, the limbic brain, the emotional and creative brain, the “being” brain.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
They prefer to take the emotion out of the decision-making process and focus on viewing any problem or situation objectively. The difference is that individuals with Introverted Thinking strengths tend to use this objectivity to solve challenges internally.
Introversion isn't totally genetic. It gets influenced by your environment at a young age, and our genes allow a certain amount of flexibility in response. This happens through “set points,” which are the upper and lower limits of how much extroversion your brain can handle.
The brains of introverts look and react differently than the brains of extroverts. The key differences: The prefrontal cortex. Introverts have a thicker prefrontal cortex than extroverts, which means they have more tissue in the area of the brain associated with deep thought and decision-making.
1. INTP. The winner of the most introverted personality type goes to INTPs. These analytical thinkers are often deep in thought and prefer to explore complex problems independently.
Introverted leaders are more accepting
And they're more likely to accept those differences and work with people, rather than continue to state how they'd prefer to get work done. They are more likely to understand someone and understand how to get that person to feel included as a member of the team.
Introverts are loyal and devoted friends.
People are attracted to loyal and devoted people. While introverts may not always realize it, this is a trait most people find attractive in them. Their loyalty isn't just attractive to the recipients of that devotion, but to anyone who observes them.
“Creating time and space for self-care is very important for introverts when they internalize stress,” says McBain. Alone time gives introverts a way to relax after a stimulating day of interacting with others. Having alone time isn't always possible, particularly if you don't live by yourself.
"Introverts are deep thinkers, meaning they need to focus on what they're doing to produce good results. They like to put their headphones on and get in the zone," explains Shriar. "One big mistake that people make with introverts is that they're shy. It's not that they're shy, it's that they're thinkers.
Introverts have fewer dopamine receptors than extroverts and are more sensitive to the negative effects of exciting situations. That explains why they may leave parties early or not even attend at all. Introverts, quickly feeling overwhelmed, seek solitude to recover from noise and stimulation.
Casual sex is sometimes a no-go.
In other words, according to Dembling, introverts “like to jump into the deep end.” Rather than devoting their time and social energy to someone they're never going to see again, introverts commonly favor being around those they've cultivated an intimate, personal relationship with.
Introverts rely on alone time to recharge their social batteries, self-reflect, and process the experiences they have with others. Without proper amounts of alone time, introverts can begin to experience irritability, fatigue, poor sleep, and trouble concentrating.
Extroverts' brains run on an energy-spending nervous system, whereas introverts' brains run on an energy-conserving nervous system. This is why introverts feel content and energized when reading a book, thinking deeply, or diving into their rich inner world of ideas.
Individuals with an introverted personality type are also often known to be perfectionists and very self-critical. Such characteristics can leave individuals feeling unsatisfied with themselves and with their lives. It can also lead to stress, mental and physical exhaustion, as well as mental health issues.
In 2011, research by psychologists Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem broke introversion into four main types: social introvert, thinking introvert, anxious introvert, and restrained introvert.
Yes, emotional trauma can cause a person to become a lot more introverted. Along with something as small as a loud noise more traumatic events can clearly change the way that someone acts.
Key Takeaways
Introverts are generally more attuned to expressing love in nonverbal ways and don't tolerate sentimentality. They also need more time to express their affection, so patience is very important at the beginning of the relationship.
INFJ is the rarest personality type across the population, occurring in just 2% of the population. It is also the rarest personality type among men. INFJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging. This unique combination is hard to find in most people.
INTP means introverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving. It is one of the 16 personality types described by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).1 People who score as an INTP personality type are often described as quiet and analytical.
Not only is Einstein one of the most famous scientists in history, but he was also a known introvert. Leaning into his introverted nature, Einstein believed that his creativity and success came from keeping to himself. He said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”