Exam 4: Aggression

Question 1

behavior intended to cause pain/harm to others

- NOT an emotion, but it is the behavioral result of anger

Answer 1

aggression

Question 2

how are patterns of aggressive movement like biting, striking, hissing organized?

Answer 2

neural circuits

Question 3

aggression between males of the same species

human males 5x more likely than females to commit murder

Answer 3

intermale aggression

Question 4

people who display hostility are more likely to suffer ___

Answer 4

heart disease

• link between strong emotions and heart attacks
• chronic activation of sympathetic nervous system

Question 5

hormones involved in aggression

Answer 5

androgens and vasopressin

Question 6

hormone with excitatory actions on CeA of amygdala (output neurons)

Answer 6

androgens (testosterone)

Question 7

hormone with excitatory actions on CeA of amygdala AND hypothalamus neurons (VMH and mPOA)

Answer 7

vasopressin

Question 8

increased vasopressin levels associated with ___ and ____

Answer 8

jealous aggression and social bonding

Question 9

neurotransmitters involved in aggression

Answer 9

dopamine, serotonin, GABA

Question 10

dopamine and its association to aggression

Answer 10

high mesolimbic dopamine associated with reinforcement of aggressive behaviors
- it does NOT produce the aggressive behaviors

Question 11

serotonin and its role in aggression

Answer 11

5-HT from raphe binds to inhibitory 5-HT1A receptors in hypothalamus
- the brakes for aggression

Question 12

GABA and aggression

Answer 12

interneurons in amygdala can control whether amygdala sends aggressive signals to brainstem
- either inhibit aggressive behavior or disinhibit aggressive behavior

Question 13

androgens associated with ___ and ___ in humans

Answer 13

social dominance and proactive aggression

Question 14

in males testosterone ____ in winners and _____ in losers

Answer 14

increases , decreases

Question 15

vicarious competition effect

Answer 15

fans (non-competing observers) show similar increases or decreases in testosterone depending on a team’s performance

Question 16

testosterone prepares the body to respond to _____

what does testosterone activate?

Answer 16

competition/challenge to one’s status

activates amygdala and sympathetic nervous system

Question 17

offense strategy to improve standing

Answer 17

proactive aggression

Question 18

behaviors to protect against oncoming threats (defense)

Answer 18

reactive aggression

Question 19

what is the hypothalamus important for?

Answer 19

anger/aggression expression

Question 20

stimulation of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)…

Answer 20

rage production

• maternal aggression linked to activation of VMH
• female sex pathway

Question 21

inhibition or lesions to VMH…

Answer 21

no rage, calm

suppresses aggression

Question 22

what are judgement and decision making regulated by?

Answer 22

ventromedial PFC

- PFC not fully developed until around age 25 ``

Question 23

ability or inability to control goal-directed behavior

Answer 23

impulsivity

- lack of consideration of consequences of actions

Question 24

impulsivity is associated with reduced activity in ____ and increased activity in ____

Answer 24

• vmPFC

- ventral striatum

Question 25

psychopaths have ….

Answer 25

• blunted responses to violence and fear stimuli

- impulse control issues associated with reduced PFC size and activity

Question 26

How does activation of PFC turn off or prevent aggressive behaviors?

Answer 26

amygdala and PFC activated at the same time

- PFC inhibits amygdala from overreacting

Question 27

low serotonin =

Answer 27

high aggression

Question 28

mice lacking a serotonin receptor are ….

Answer 28

hyperaggressive

Question 29

5-HT neurons in raphe inhibit aggressive behaviors by shutting down the

Answer 29

hypothalamus

Question 30

____reduce aggressive behavior

- used to treat depression, reduces overall aggression

Answer 30

SSRIs

- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Question 31

what neurotransmitter does the raphe nuclei release?

Answer 31

serotonin

- this inhibits the hypothalamus bc its signal is stronger than the glutamate being released from the amygdala