Aggression & the Brain Flashcards
Premeditated aggression
planned behavior with a clear goal in mind
Orbito-frontal PFC
-plays a role in regulation of aggressive behavior
-inverse relationship between orbito-frontal glucose
metabolism & history of aggression
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex is associated with..
- Integration of cognition and affect
- anger suppression
Impulsive agression
- provoked by strong emotions such as fear or anger
- allows us to defend ourselves in the faces of imminent threat
Phineas Gage
- American railroad construction foreman with damage to most of his left frontal lobe due to a iron rode that went through his head.
- Suffered personality changes
Hypothalamus (and agression)
High-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) found to decrease aggression, suggesting hypothalamus regulates aggression
Dorsolateral & dorsomedial PFC
Related to self-control & response to external
stimuli.
Reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex is associated with…
a) release of bottom-up control
b) release of top-down control
c) increase of bottom-up control
d) increase of top-down control
b) release of top-down control
Amygdala (and agression)
- greater activity associated with impulsive aggression
- lower activity associated with premeditated aggression
TRUE OR FALSE
In normal development, our ability to suppress aggression increases and our aggressive tendencies decrease
TRUE
The limbic system includes: (3 main areas)
- Amygdala
- Hypothalamus
- Cingulate cortex
TRUE OR FALSE
The serotonin and dopamine systems are functionally fully independent, so alterations in one do not affect the other.
False
Anterior cingulate cortex
- Connections between ACC & amygdala (modulated by PFC) fundamental for anger control
- Hypo-activity linked to aggression
What can the case of Phineas Gage tell us about aggression?
The frontal lobes cannot be the only brain area involved in aggression
TRUE OR FALSE
The serotonin system facilitates prefrontal function
TRUE
