From provocation to aggression: the neural network
Abstract Background In-vivo observations of neural processes during human aggressive behavior are difficult to obtain, limiting the number of studies in this area. To address this gap, the present study implemented a social reactive aggression paradigm in 29 healthy men, employing non-violent provoc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-017-0390-z |
| _version_ | 1818422707422756864 |
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| author | Jonathan Repple Christina M. Pawliczek Bianca Voss Steven Siegel Frank Schneider Nils Kohn Ute Habel |
| author_facet | Jonathan Repple Christina M. Pawliczek Bianca Voss Steven Siegel Frank Schneider Nils Kohn Ute Habel |
| author_sort | Jonathan Repple |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In-vivo observations of neural processes during human aggressive behavior are difficult to obtain, limiting the number of studies in this area. To address this gap, the present study implemented a social reactive aggression paradigm in 29 healthy men, employing non-violent provocation in a two-player game to elicit aggressive behavior in fMRI settings. Results Participants responded more aggressively after high provocation reflected in taking more money from their opponents. Comparing aggression trials after high provocation to those after low provocation revealed activations in neural circuits involved in aggression: the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the insula. In general, our findings indicate that aggressive behavior activates a complex, widespread brain network, reflecting a cortico-limbic interaction and overlapping with circuits underlying negative emotions and conflicting decision-making. Brain activation during provocation in the OFC was associated with the degree of aggressive behavior in this task. Conclusion Therefore, data suggest there is greater susceptibility for provocation, rather than less inhibition of aggressive tendencies, in individuals with higher aggressive responses. This further supports the hypothesis that reactive aggression can be seen as a consequence of provocation of aggressive emotional responses and parallel evaluative regulatory processes mediated mainly by the insula and prefrontal areas (OFC, mPFC, dlPFC, and ACC) respectively. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:30:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e16f954ba9ea4dacbb6f4fd7928d746f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2202 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:30:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-e16f954ba9ea4dacbb6f4fd7928d746f2022-12-21T22:59:43ZengBMCBMC Neuroscience1471-22022017-10-011811910.1186/s12868-017-0390-zFrom provocation to aggression: the neural networkJonathan Repple0Christina M. Pawliczek1Bianca Voss2Steven Siegel3Frank Schneider4Nils Kohn5Ute Habel6Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment for Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, RadboudumcDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen UniversityAbstract Background In-vivo observations of neural processes during human aggressive behavior are difficult to obtain, limiting the number of studies in this area. To address this gap, the present study implemented a social reactive aggression paradigm in 29 healthy men, employing non-violent provocation in a two-player game to elicit aggressive behavior in fMRI settings. Results Participants responded more aggressively after high provocation reflected in taking more money from their opponents. Comparing aggression trials after high provocation to those after low provocation revealed activations in neural circuits involved in aggression: the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the insula. In general, our findings indicate that aggressive behavior activates a complex, widespread brain network, reflecting a cortico-limbic interaction and overlapping with circuits underlying negative emotions and conflicting decision-making. Brain activation during provocation in the OFC was associated with the degree of aggressive behavior in this task. Conclusion Therefore, data suggest there is greater susceptibility for provocation, rather than less inhibition of aggressive tendencies, in individuals with higher aggressive responses. This further supports the hypothesis that reactive aggression can be seen as a consequence of provocation of aggressive emotional responses and parallel evaluative regulatory processes mediated mainly by the insula and prefrontal areas (OFC, mPFC, dlPFC, and ACC) respectively.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-017-0390-zImpulsivityTAPPSAPNeuroimagingViolence |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Repple Christina M. Pawliczek Bianca Voss Steven Siegel Frank Schneider Nils Kohn Ute Habel From provocation to aggression: the neural network BMC Neuroscience Impulsivity TAP PSAP Neuroimaging Violence |
| title | From provocation to aggression: the neural network |
| title_full | From provocation to aggression: the neural network |
| title_fullStr | From provocation to aggression: the neural network |
| title_full_unstemmed | From provocation to aggression: the neural network |
| title_short | From provocation to aggression: the neural network |
| title_sort | from provocation to aggression the neural network |
| topic | Impulsivity TAP PSAP Neuroimaging Violence |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-017-0390-z |
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