Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression
- Created by: CarlaBa
- Created on: 19-03-19 17:21
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- Neural & Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression
- Neural mechanisms
- Limbic System
- Papez (1937) & Maclean (1952): limbic system includes...
- cingulate gyrus
- hypothalamus
- fornix
- Amygdala
- Strongly associated w aggression
- Gospic et al. (2011) carried out fMRI on pts in a game which promotes aggression. Scans showed aggressive reactions were associated w a heightened response by the amygdala.
- Bendozapine (reduces AMS arousal) taken before the game halved the number of aggressive reactions.
- Gospic et al. (2011) carried out fMRI on pts in a game which promotes aggression. Scans showed aggressive reactions were associated w a heightened response by the amygdala.
- Strongly associated w aggression
- Reactivity of the limbic system predicts aggressive behaviour
- AO3
- Excludes other possibilities...
- Amygdala functions in tandem w OFC to inhibit aggression.
- Coccaro et al (2007): OFC activity reduced in aggressive patients.
- Amygdala functions in tandem w OFC to inhibit aggression.
- Excludes other possibilities...
- Papez (1937) & Maclean (1952): limbic system includes...
- Serotonin
- Normal levels = inhibitory.
- Virkkunen et al. (1994): compared levels of serotonin in violent impulsive and non impulsive offenders.
- Serotonin levels were significantly lower in impulsive offenders.
- Low serotonin = increased aggression
- AO3
- Supporting evidence: Berman et al. (2009): pts given a serotonin enhancing drug gave fewer electric shocks to a confederate.
- Limbic System
- Hormonal Mechanisms
- Testosterone
- Dolan et al (2001): positive correlation btw T levels and aggressive behaviour.
- Animal studies show experimental increases in T related to aggressive behaviour.
- Giammanco et al. (2005)
- Higher in men + linked to aggression.
- AO3
- Plausible mechanism to explain T's effects
- Mehta + Josephs (2006): 73% of losers (whose T levels rose) rechallenged opponent. 22% of losers (T levels fell) rechallenged.
- Evidence in humans is mixed.
- Carre & Mehta (2011) dual-hormone hypothesis: high T = aggression but ONLY if cortisol is low.
- Plausible mechanism to explain T's effects
- Testosterone
- AO3
- Research is correlational.
- Risk of over-simplification.
- Neural mechanisms
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