Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background: The 5-HT sub(1A) receptor subtype has been postulated to modulate aggressive behavior particularly when it is excessive. F15599 is a high affinity and selective 5-HT sub(1A) receptor agonist that exhibits biased agonism for postsynaptic receptors that are preferentially coupled to G alpha i3 protein subunits, with more potent action in the cortex, and with potential for selectively reducing aggression. Objectives and methods: The aims of the current study were to investigate the anti-aggressive effects of the novel 5-HT sub(1A) receptor agonist, F15599, microinjected into the ventral orbital prefrontal cortex (VO PFC) and into the infralimbic cortex (ILC) of CF-1 male mice that had been previously socially provoked and to confirm the specific action at this receptor by blocking its effects using the 5-HT sub(1A) receptor antagonist, WAY100,635. Results: Microinjection of the lower doses of F15599 (0.03 and 0.1 mu g) into the VO PFC, but not into the ILC, significantly reduced the frequency of attack bites and sideways threats, without affecting other elements of the behavioral repertoire related to aggression such as pursuing and sniffing the intruder and tail rattle. There were also no changes observed in the duration of walking and rearing. Pretreatment with WAY100,635 prevented the anti-aggressive effects of F15599 when microinjected into VO PFC. Conclusions: The present results demonstrated that F15599 is effective in reducing the most intense behavioral elements of aggressive behavior in male mice, when microinjected into the VO PFC, but not into the ILC, without affecting nonaggressive behavior, and confirmed the critical role of this cortical region and specifically the 5-HT sub(1A) heteroreceptors in the modulation of escalated aggressive behavior.

In contrast to male rats, aggression in virgin female rats has been rarely studied. Here, we established a rat model of enhanced aggression in females using a combination of social isolation and aggression-training to specifically investigate the involvement of the oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) systems within the lateral septum (LS). Using neuropharmacological, optogenetic, chemogenetic as well as microdialysis approaches, we revealed that enhanced OXT release within the ventral LS (vLS), combined with reduced AVP release within the dorsal LS (dLS), is required for aggression in female rats. Accordingly, increased activity of putative OXT receptor-positive neurons in the vLS, and decreased activity of putative AVP receptor-positive neurons in the dLS, are likely to underly aggression in female rats. Finally, in vitro activation of OXT receptors in the vLS increased tonic GABAergic inhibition of dLS neurons. Overall, our data suggest a model showing that septal release of OXT and AVP differentially affects aggression in females by modulating the inhibitory tone within LS sub-networks. Aggression in females is understudied in model organisms. Here, the authors establish a model of enhanced aggression in virgin female rats and show that oxytocin and vasopressin systems differentially modulate aggression in distinct neuronal populations of the lateral septum of female rats.

Although the mechanisms of development of aggression have been focused on day by day, the complicated effects of distal and proximal factors on the development of social aggression in emerging adults have not been uncovered. A serial cascade model of aggression was proposed to address this issue. A longitudinal investigation over 2.5 years was conducted to test this model by exploring the serial cascade effects of relative deprivation (a representative of distal factors) and anger rumination (a representative of proximal factors) on the development of social aggression. A total of 1113 Chinese university students (Mage = 18.95 ± 0.96, 63.10% female) from six universities in five areas participated in this study. The results suggest that developmental trajectories and longitudinal changes in anger rumination mediate the relationship between developmental trajectories and longitudinal changes in relative deprivation and social aggression, and developmental trajectories and changes in relative deprivation mediate the longitudinal relationship between anger rumination and social aggression. These findings support the serial cascade effects of distal and proximal factors on the development of aggression and expand upon the general aggression model (GAM).

Two major types of aggression, proactive and reactive, are associated with contrasting expression, eliciting factors, neural pathways, development, and function. The distinction is useful for understanding the nature and evolution of human aggression. Compared with many primates, humans have a high propensity for proactive aggression, a trait shared with chimpanzees but not bonobos. By contrast, humans have a low propensity for reactive aggression compared with chimpanzees, and in this respect humans are more bonobo-like. The bimodal classification of human aggression helps solve two important puzzles. First, a long-standing debate about the significance of aggression in human nature is misconceived, because both positions are partly correct. The Hobbes–Huxley position rightly recognizes the high potential for proactive violence, while the Rousseau–Kropotkin position correctly notes the low frequency of reactive aggression. Second, the occurrence of two major types of human aggression solves the execution paradox, concerned with the hypothesized effects of capital punishment on self-domestication in the Pleistocene. The puzzle is that the propensity for aggressive behavior was supposedly reduced as a result of being selected against by capital punishment, but capital punishment is itself an aggressive behavior. Since the aggression used by executioners is proactive, the execution paradox is solved to the extent that the aggressive behavior of which victims were accused was frequently reactive, as has been reported. Both types of killing are important in humans, although proactive killing appears to be typically more frequent in war. The biology of proactive aggression is less well known and merits increased attention.

This study investigated the role of autonomic nervous system (ANS) coordination in response to emotion in girls’ and boys’ development of relational (e.g., ignoring, excluding) and physical (e.g., hitting, kicking) aggression. Caregivers reported on children’s relational and physical aggression at ages 6, 7, 8, and 10 years ( N = 232, 50.4% girls, 46.6% Latinx). Sympathetic nervous system (assessed via pre-ejection period) and parasympathetic nervous system (assessed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia) reactivity were measured in response to video clips depicting fear, happiness, and sadness at age 7. Growth curve models indicated that ANS reactivity to sadness, but not to fear or happiness, was related to trajectories of relational aggression. In contrast, ANS reactivity to all three emotions was associated with trajectories of physical aggression. Effects differed across genders, indicating that distinct patterns of ANS reactivity to emotion may be involved in girls’ and boys’ development of aggression. Overall, these findings contribute to a growing literature documenting the role of ANS reactivity to emotion in aggressive behavior. Moreover, this study considers ANS reactivity to specific emotions, as related to both relational and physical aggression, and as differentially expressed among girls versus boys.

Youth aggression is a significant predictor of public health issues such as bullying, intimate partner violence, and homicide. This study investigates how caregiver-child closeness mitigates the association between parenting practices and youth aggression, using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). We first identified distinct dimensions of youth aggression and examined whether caregiver-child closeness could buffer the link between various parenting behaviors and different types of youth aggression. Two dimensions of youth aggression emerged in our dataset: emotional aggression and physical violence. The results show that non-violent discipline is positively associated with both types of aggression, but the strength of this association varies on the level of parental closeness. Specifically, when closeness is low, the links between non-violent discipline and both forms of aggression are stronger, whereas these associations are weaker when closeness is high. Notably, parental closeness did not significantly moderate the effects of psychological aggression, physical assault, or neglect. These findings suggest that while strengthening parent–child closeness may buffer the risks associated with non-violent discipline, it may be less effective in mitigating the impact of harsher parenting behaviors highlighting the need for tailored interventions based on specific parenting contexts.

This meta-analytic review of 148 studies on child and adolescent direct and indirect aggression examined the magnitude of gender differences, intercorrelations between forms, and associations with maladjustment. Results confirmed prior findings of gender differences (favoring boys) in direct aggression and trivial gender differences in indirect aggression. Results also indicated a substantial intercorrelation(r̄ = .76) between these forms. Despite this high intercorrelation, the 2 forms showed unique associations with maladjustment: Direct aggression is more strongly related to externalizing problems, poor peer relations, and low prosocial behavior, and indirect aggression is related to internalizing problems and higher prosocial behavior. Moderation of these effect sizes by method of assessment, age, gender, and several additional variables were systematically investigated.

This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and aggression. It provides a detailed overview of the physiology and functioning of these axes, as well as the implications for aggressive behavior. The HPA axis, responsible for the stress response, is activated in response to various stressors and can influence aggressive behavior. Glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, play a crucial role in stress-induced activation of the HPA axis and have been implicated in aggressive tendencies. Chronic stress can dysregulate the HPA axis, leading to alterations in cortisol levels and potentially contributing to aggressive behavior. The HPG axis, particularly the androgen hormone testosterone, is also closely linked to aggression. Animal and human studies have consistently shown a positive association between testosterone levels and aggression. The androgen receptors in the brain’s neural circuitry play a critical role in modulating aggressive behavior. Interactions between the HPA and HPG axes further contribute to the regulation of aggression. Feedback mechanisms and crosstalk between these axes provide a complex system for the modulation of both stress and reproductive functions, which can impact aggressive behavior. Additionally,the influence of stress on reproductive functions, particularly the role of androgens in stress-induced aggression, adds further complexity to this relationship. The review also discusses the future directions and implications for clinical interventions. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying aggression requires integrating molecular, cellular, and circuit-level approaches. Translational perspectives, including animal models and human studies, can bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications. Finally, therapeutic strategies for aggression-related disorders are explored, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions based on a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between the HPA and HPG axes. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying aggression, with a specific focus on the interplay between the HPA and HPG axes. By elucidating the complex interactions between stress, hormones, and aggressive behavior, this research paves the way for future investigations and potential therapeutic interventions for aggression-related disorders.