NEURAL AND HORMONAL MECHANISMS IN AGGRESSION

Question 1

where is the limbic system?

Answer 1

deep inside the brain

Question 2

who was the first researcher to link limbic structures?

Answer 2

Papez

Question 3

what did Papez link limbic structures to?

Answer 3

to emotional behaviours such as aggression

Question 4

what is the limbic system made up of?

Answer 4

hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus

Question 5

what is the most important structure of the limbic system?

Answer 5

amygdala

Question 6

what does the amygdala do?

Answer 6

helps human and animals assess and respond to threats

Question 7

the what of the amygdala has proven to be an important predictor of what?

Answer 7

reactivity of the amygdala has proven to be an important indicator of aggressive behaviour

Question 8

who conducted research about the amygdala and limbic system?

Answer 8

Gospic et al

Question 9

what did Gospic et al do?

Answer 9

ultimatum game to reject/accept splitting the money while having an fMRI scan

Question 10

what did Gospic et al find?

Answer 10

those rejecting unfair offers had a heightened response in the amygdala

Question 11

what did the drug benzodiazepine do?

Answer 11

1) halved number of rejection/aggressions

2) decreased the activity of the amygdala

Question 12

what is serotonin?

Answer 12

a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter in the communication between neurons

Question 13

what type of effect does serotonin have on the brain?

Answer 13

inhibitory effects on the brain, slowing down neural activity

Question 14

what happens if there is decreased serotonin?

Answer 14

reduces self-control and increases impulsive behaviour inc aggresion

Question 15

who found that decreased serotonin leads to impulsive behaviour?

Answer 15

Denson et al

Question 16

who research serotonin?

Answer 16

Vikkunen et al

Question 17

what did Vikkunen et al do?

Answer 17

compared the cerebrospinal fluid containing a serotonin breakdown product in violent-impulsive offenders and violent non impulsive offenders

Question 18

what were serotonin breakdown levels in impulsive offenders?

Answer 18

lower

Question 19

what did violent impulsive offenders also suffer from?

Answer 19

sleep irregularities, which serotonin also regulates

Question 20

what is testosterone?

Answer 20

a male sex hormone responsible for development of masculine features

Question 21

what does testosterone regulate?

Answer 21

social behaviour

Question 22

who studied testosterone in male offenders?

Answer 22

Dolan et al

Question 23

Dolan et al found a what correlation between…

Answer 23

positive correlation between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviours in 60 male UK behaviour