Neural+Hormonal Explanations of Aggression

what is the limbic system and what does it include?

papez Maclean limbic theory- has structures; amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus and converts reactive aggression
reactive aggression is a response to a perceived threat in the environment

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what things is the limbic system linked too?

.cingulate gyrus which is responsible for focusing attention on emotionally significant events
.prefrontal cortex- involved in forward planning and anticipation of rewards

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what is the hypothalamus role?

regulated autonomic NS and regulates responses to emotional circumstances, therefore damage in this area can lead to aggressive/inappropriate responses to threat

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what is the amygdala role?

responsible for attaching. emotional significance to sensory information

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what is the limbic system (in regards to hierarchy)?
where does this take place and what happens as a result?

hierarchal with signals being passed from lower to higher systems in PFC, where feelings are monitored+interpreted, triggering a physical response

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what is a study that shows this?

an FMRI scan showed that when the amygdala is electrically stimulated in an animal, they responded more aggressively

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what does the PFC reduces?

the inhibition of amygdala (less likely to fire),increasing levels of aggression (if there is damage to PFC)

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what neurotransmitter can increase aggression and how?

seretonin, works in frontal areas of brain, s has a calming effect and low levels of s means ppl cant control aggressive behaviours. s also regulates PFC and reduces levels of aggressive responses to external stimuli

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where is aggression more popular?
what hormone can increase aggression and how?

aggression more in M>F
the hormone testosterone is the main hormone to decide whether embryos are m/f. t peaks in young adolescent males (where aggression is most seen) before dealing w age. also promotes muscle-

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continuing w previous card

-strength and responsible for sex drive

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name the evaluations

+Kluer+Brucy- study rhesus monkey that had damage to limbic system, found monkeys didn't show emotional, motor or vocal reactions from stimuli, they lacked understanding of hierarchy and would try to find dominant leaders (-unethical)

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-technological advances in neuroimaging techniques shows how amygdala and aggression link, Wong et al did MRI of 19 violent criminals in broad moor hospital to 20 normal ppl found volume of a was smaller (-populations validity, gender bias)

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+Ferrari et al, s- male rats fight w another rat at specific time for 10 days, on the 11th not allowed fight, at that time, rats dopamine levels rise by 65% and s levels dropped by 35% (-correlational, not cause and effect research)

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-mann et al gave drug dexfenfluramine (depletes s in brain), to 35 healthy adults, then used questionnaire to test aggression, rose levels of aggression in M but not F, showing issues of beta bias in neural explanations of aggression

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+wagner- wanted to find if t was implicated in aggression, castrated mice and there aggression levels went down (-only correlational, not cause and effect)

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Neural+Hormonal Explanations of Aggression

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