Neural Mechanisms In Aggression

Question 1

What does neural mechanisms relate to?
Key points?

Answer 1

-Brain + NS
-limbic system/amgdala/serotonin levels

Question 2

What is the Limbic system?

Answer 2

Structures in the brain e.g hypothalamus + amygdala (linked to agg)

Question 3

What is serotonin?

Answer 3

NT’s with inhibitory effects brain (key role inn agg behaviour)

Question 4

Who linked the the limbic system to agg?
What did they suggest?

Answer 4

-Papez and Maclean
-the reactivity of amygdala in humans/mammals predicts agg behaviour
-more responsive the amygdala the more aggressive the person is

Question 5

What plays a key role in how mammals assess + respond to enviromental threats

Answer 5

Amygdala

Question 6

Gospic et al research and findings

Answer 6

-p’s subjected to mild provocation
-p’s acted aggressively when FMRI showed fast + heightened response by amygdala
-benzodiazepine drug (reduces arousal in autonomic system) taken before provocation = reduced activity of amygdala + halved egg

Question 7

What does normal levels of serotonin in Orbito frontal cortex lead to?

Answer 7

Reduced firing of neurons = greater behavioural self-control

Question 8

Denson suggests?

Answer 8

That reduced serotonin reduces self-control + leads to increase in impulsive behaviour (agg)

Question 9

What did Kirkunen et al do?

Answer 9

-Compared levels of serotonin breakdown in cerebrospinal fluid of violent + impulsive + violent non-impulsive offenders
-found levels were lower in impulsive offenders

Question 10

Limitation of neural mechanisms (limbic)

Answer 10

-research shows non-limbic structures r also involved in agg
-limbic structures (amygdala) function together with OFC which isn’t part of limbic
-ofc involved in impulse reg + inhibition of agg behaviour
-according to Emil Coccaro et al - ofc activity is reduces in those psychiatric disorders that feature agg
-reduced activity disrupts ofc impulse function which causes agg behaviour
-suggest neural regulation is more complex and not just limbic system

Question 11

Strength of Nm’s (drugs)

Answer 11

-strength of serotonin explanation = research into drugs
-drugs such as paroxetine that increase serotonin have been found to reduce levels of agg
-Berman et al gave placebo/dose of paroxetine
-participants did lab game with giving and receiving shocks in response to provocation (insults)
the paroxetine group consistently gave less intense shocks than placebo
-causal link between serotonin function and agg

Question 12

lim of both neural and hormonal

Answer 12

-too deterministic
-biologically determined factors result in aggressiveness - if accepted then saying agg is beyond individual control
-(serotonin/limbic/progesterone)