MAOA gene - aggression
- Created by: Aimee W x
- Created on: 14-03-22 10:22
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- MAOA gene and aggressive behaviour
- produces a protein called Monoamine Oxidase A.
- regulates the metabolism of serotonin in the brain.
- if gene is defective, leads to low levels of serotonin.
- this makes it difficult for the person to inhibit the emotional responses generated by the Amygdala,
- leads to an increased risk of impulsive & aggressive behaviour
- this makes it difficult for the person to inhibit the emotional responses generated by the Amygdala,
- Brunner conducted research into the MAOA gene he found a defective gene in a Dutch family with a history of male violence. This suggests a defective MAOA gene is associated with an increased risk of aggressive behaviour.
- further research was also conducted by Cases. he disabled this gene in mice, which then had an influence on their serotonin levels, making the males more aggressive. however, the females remained unaffected. Suggests the gene can increase aggression when it is not functioning normally and inhibits aggression when it is.
- however this research only focussed on non- human animals, and so cannot generalise.
- Caspi also conducted research by studying the gene in children. he studied 500 male children, and found that a defective gene did lead to significant increase of growing up to exhibit anti-social behaviour, but only if the had been mistreated as a child.
- suggests the interaction between defective MAOA gene and environment determines aggressive behaviours in humans
- produces a protein called Monoamine Oxidase A.
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