The structure of the brain and aggression

Question 1

Brain structure: role of the limbic system

What is the key structure involved in aggression

Answer 1

Amygdala

Question 2

Brain structure: role of the limbic system

Role of the amygdala

Answer 2

It’s how organisms assess and responds to environmental threats and challenges

Question 3

Brain structure: role of the limbic system

What is a key indicator of aggressive behaviour

Answer 3

the reactivity of the amygdala

Question 4

Brain structure: role of the prefrontal cortex

Recent research indicates amygdala doen’t influence aggression on it’s own, what other part of the brain is linked

Answer 4

Orbitofrontal cortex

Question 5

Brain structure: role of the prefrontal cortex

What is the orbitofrontal cortex

Answer 5

region of the prefrontal cortex, just above the eye sockets.

Question 6

Brain structure: role of the prefrontal cortex

Orbitofrontal cortex role

Answer 6

Higher cognitive functions, like rational thinking
- thought to be involved in self control and impulse regulation.

Question 7

Brain function: role of serotonin

What effects does serotonin have on transmission between neurons

Answer 7

it slows down and dampens neuronal activity

Question 8

Brain function: role of serotonin

What type of behaviour is associated with normal levels of serotonin in OFC (orbitofrontal cortex)

Answer 8

Reasonable degree of behavioural self-control

• reduced levels of serotonin may reduce self control and lead to more impulsive behaviours

Question 9

Brain function: Role of dopamine

How does dopamine link with agression

Answer 9

Dopamine interacts with serotonin
- serotonin underactivity leads to dopamine overactivity
- both linked to impulsivity and agression

Question 10

What is a strength of this idea

Answer 10

Evidence from longitudinal studies support the role of the amygdala in aggression.

Question 11

Strength - research evidence:

Procedure of longitudinal study

Answer 11

researchers took fMRI scans of 56 males who were part of a study when they were 6-7 years old.

these men consistantly behaved aggressively for 20 years

Question 12

Strength - research evidence:

results of longitudinal study

Answer 12

strong negative correlation between amygdala volume and levels of aggression.

Question 13

Strength - research evidence:

What do the results show

Answer 13

Strong support for the influence of the amygdala, shows explaantion has predictive validity

Question 14

Weakness of brain stucture and aggression

Answer 14

most research is often correlational so a cause and effect relationship cannot be established

• an experimental design making people angry would be unethical

Question 15

Weakness of brain stucture and aggression:

What’s an alterative to using correlational studies

Answer 15

experimental studies on animals, however this would also raise ethical and practical concerns

Question 16

Weakness of brain stucture and aggression:

What do these 2 points mean for the affects of brain structure and aggression?

Answer 16

Impossible to establish whether a paticular structure or function is a cause or effect of aggressive behaviour.

Question 17

Competing arguement to the weakness

Answer 17

Some researchers investigated giving drugs to participants that increased serotonin levels.

Question 18

Competing arguement:

What did the researchers find when they gave the serotonin increasing drug

Answer 18

Participants gave fewer and less intense electrical shocks to others, lower aggression levels.

• this gives evidence to a link between serotonin and aggression

Question 19

Another weakness of brain structure’s link to aggression

Answer 19

It’s reductionist, amygdala dysfunction is not an inevitable cause of aggression

Question 20

Another weakness of brain structure’s link to aggression:

How do we know amygdala dysfunction isn’t the only cause of aggression

Answer 20

aggression has many factors, social, psychological and environmental
- interact with biologicla predispositions

Question 21

Another weakness of brain structure’s link to aggression:

What does this explanation being reductionist mean?

Answer 21

It doesn’t reflect the true complexity of the underlying causes of aggression