Exam 4: Aggression Flashcards
behavior intended to cause pain/harm to others
- NOT an emotion, but it is the behavioral result of anger
aggression
how are patterns of aggressive movement like biting, striking, hissing organized?
neural circuits
aggression between males of the same species
human males 5x more likely than females to commit murder
intermale aggression
people who display hostility are more likely to suffer ___
heart disease
- link between strong emotions and heart attacks
- chronic activation of sympathetic nervous system
hormones involved in aggression
androgens and vasopressin
hormone with excitatory actions on CeA of amygdala (output neurons)
androgens (testosterone)
hormone with excitatory actions on CeA of amygdala AND hypothalamus neurons (VMH and mPOA)
vasopressin
increased vasopressin levels associated with ___ and ____
jealous aggression and social bonding
neurotransmitters involved in aggression
dopamine, serotonin, GABA
dopamine and its association to aggression
high mesolimbic dopamine associated with reinforcement of aggressive behaviors
- it does NOT produce the aggressive behaviors
serotonin and its role in aggression
5-HT from raphe binds to inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors in hypothalamus
- the brakes for aggression
GABA and aggression
interneurons in amygdala can control whether amygdala sends aggressive signals to brainstem
- either inhibit aggressive behavior or disinhibit aggressive behavior
androgens associated with ___ and ___ in humans
social dominance and proactive aggression
in males testosterone ____ in winners and _____ in losers
increases , decreases
vicarious competition effect
fans (non-competing observers) show similar increases or decreases in testosterone depending on a team’s performance
testosterone prepares the body to respond to _____
what does testosterone activate?
competition/challenge to one’s status
activates amygdala and sympathetic nervous system
offense strategy to improve standing
proactive aggression
behaviors to protect against oncoming threats (defense)
reactive aggression
what is the hypothalamus important for?
anger/aggression expression
stimulation of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)…
rage production
- maternal aggression linked to activation of VMH
- female sex pathway
inhibition or lesions to VMH…
no rage, calm
suppresses aggression
what are judgement and decision making regulated by?
ventromedial PFC
- PFC not fully developed until around age 25 ``
ability or inability to control goal-directed behavior
impulsivity
- lack of consideration of consequences of actions
impulsivity is associated with reduced activity in ____ and increased activity in ____
- vmPFC
- ventral striatum
