Abstract
BackgroundIn-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.ResultsParticipants 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.ConclusionTherefore, 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.
Highlights
In-vivo observations of neural processes during human aggressive behavior are difficult to obtain, limiting the number of studies in this area
Theories regarding neural networks for aggression are based primarily on patients with abnormal aggression, animal studies and imaging studies of related psychological constructs [2,3,4]. Combining results from these different approaches, reactive aggression is seen as a result of an imbalance between the top-down control provided by the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and Repple et al BMC Neurosci (2017) 18:73 excessive “bottom-up” drives triggered by limbic regions, such as the amygdala and insula [2, 3, 5]
Several theories propose that the network between the limbic system, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is responsible for the processing of emotional and goal driven behavior and damage or dysfunction of this network results in emotion regulation difficulties that may lead to impulsive and aggressive behavior [4, 6, 7]
Summary
In-vivo observations of neural processes during human aggressive behavior are difficult to obtain, limiting the number of studies in this area. Theories regarding neural networks for aggression are based primarily on patients with abnormal aggression, animal studies and imaging studies of related psychological constructs (provocation, anger, emotional regulation processes, conflict decision making, and theory-of-mind) [2,3,4] Combining results from these different approaches, reactive aggression is seen as a result of an imbalance between the top-down control provided by the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and Repple et al BMC Neurosci (2017) 18:73 excessive “bottom-up” drives triggered by limbic regions, such as the amygdala and insula [2, 3, 5]. Several theories propose that the network between the limbic system, the OFC, and the dlPFC is responsible for the processing of emotional and goal driven behavior and damage or dysfunction of this network results in emotion regulation difficulties that may lead to impulsive and aggressive behavior [4, 6, 7]
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