Aggression & the Brain

Question 1

Premeditated aggression

Answer 1

planned behavior with a clear goal in mind

Question 2

Orbito-frontal PFC

Answer 2

-plays a role in regulation of aggressive behavior
-inverse relationship between orbito-frontal glucose
metabolism & history of aggression

Question 3

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex is associated with..

Answer 3

• Integration of cognition and affect

- anger suppression

Question 4

Impulsive agression

Answer 4

• provoked by strong emotions such as fear or anger

- allows us to defend ourselves in the faces of imminent threat

Question 5

Phineas Gage

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Hypothalamus (and agression)

Answer 6

High-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) found to decrease aggression, suggesting hypothalamus regulates aggression

Question 7

Dorsolateral & dorsomedial PFC

Answer 7

Related to self-control & response to external

stimuli.

Question 8

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

Answer 8

b) release of top-down control

Question 9

Amygdala (and agression)

Answer 9

• greater activity associated with impulsive aggression

- lower activity associated with premeditated aggression

Question 10

TRUE OR FALSE

In normal development, our ability to suppress aggression increases and our aggressive tendencies decrease

Answer 10

TRUE

Question 11

The limbic system includes: (3 main areas)

Answer 11

• Amygdala
• Hypothalamus
• Cingulate cortex

Question 12

TRUE OR FALSE

The serotonin and dopamine systems are functionally fully independent, so alterations in one do not affect the other.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Anterior cingulate cortex

Answer 13

• Connections between ACC & amygdala (modulated by PFC) fundamental for anger control
• Hypo-activity linked to aggression

Question 14

What can the case of Phineas Gage tell us about aggression?

Answer 14

The frontal lobes cannot be the only brain area involved in aggression

Question 15

TRUE OR FALSE

The serotonin system facilitates prefrontal function

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 16

TRUE OR FALSE

Convicted murders or people with antisocial personality showed greater amygdala activation to aggressive scenarios

Answer 16

FALSE

Premeditated aggression shows less activation of the amygdala

Question 17

What are some treatments that can be used in extreme cases of aggression?

Answer 17

• Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
• Dopamine antagonists

Question 18

mesocorticolimbic dopamine system

Answer 18

• dopaminergic pathways from the VTA to the limbic system and cortex
• involved in emotional response, cognitive control, reward & motivation
• elevated DA system activity may enhance impulsive behavior
• Haloperidol used to reduce aggressive outbursts in psychotic patients

Question 19

True or false

Serotonergic hypo-function may lead to dopaminergic hyper-function

Answer 19

True