the structure of the brain and aggression

Question 1

what is the key structure involved in aggression ?

Answer 1

the amygdala

Question 2

what role does the amygdala have ?

Answer 2

how an organism assesses and responds to environmental threats and challenges

Question 3

what does the reactivity level of a human’s amygdala show ?

Answer 3

it predicts how aggressively the person behaves

Question 4

what is the role of the prefrontal cortex ?

Answer 4

most recent research has shown that the amygdala does not work in isolation. it works in tandem with the orbitofrontal cortex

Question 5

where is the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) ?

Answer 5

region in the pre frontal cortex just above the eye sockets

Question 6

what role does the OFC play ?

Answer 6

important role in cognitive functions such as rational thinking and decision making. also thought to be involved in self-control, impulse regulation and inhibition of aggressive behaviours.

Question 7

what did coccaro et al. (2007) find about the OFC in psychiatric patients involved in aggressive acts ?

Answer 7

activity in the OFC is reduced, which disrupts its impulse-control function

Question 8

what is serotonin ?

Answer 8

a neurotransmitter with widespread inhibitory effects on transmission between neurons in the brain - slows down and dampens neuronal activity.

Question 9

what are normal levels of serotonin in the OFC associated with ?

Answer 9

associated with a reasonable degree of behavioural self-control. decreased levels of serotonin may disturb this link, reducing self-control and leading to more impulsive behaviours.

Question 10

what is dopamine ?

Answer 10

a neurotransmitter that has inhibitory effects in some areas of the brain and excitatory effects in others.

Question 11

what is dopamine involved in regulating ?

Answer 11

involved in regulating motivated behaviour and experience of reward.

Question 12

what is dopamine’s main influence on aggression ?

Answer 12

its main influence comes through its interaction with serotonin. according to Dongju sea et al. (2008), serotonin under activity (hypofunction) stimulates dopamine overactivity and both are linked with impulsivity and aggression.

Question 13

(evaluation) what is a strength of this theory ?

Answer 13

• some powerful research evidence for the role of the amygdala in aggression
• Charles Whitman - tumour on his amygdala caused him to go on a shooting spree
• Phineas Gage - had brain damage to his orbitofrontal cortex and caused his personality to change, including increased levels of aggression

Question 14

(evaluation) what is a weakness of this theory ?

Answer 14

• the research into neural influences on aggression is often correlational
• typically studies find links between high levels of aggression and a brain function - correlational research is ethical because experimental would mean making people aggressive
• impossible to establish whether a particular structure or function is a cause or effect of aggressive behaviour, or whether another variable is involved.

Question 15

(evaluation) what is an application of this theory ?

Answer 15

• potential practical benefits to understanding neural influences on aggression
• e.g., a goal of research is to discover a drug that affects the brain’s serotonin system, reducing aggressive behaviours with minimal side effects.
• example of serotonin agonist drug is eltoprazine (a type of serenic drug)

Question 16

what did Dongju sea et al. (2008) find ?

Answer 16

according to Dongju sea et al. (2008), serotonin under activity (hypofunction) stimulates dopamine overactivity and both are linked with impulsivity and aggression.