Neurobiology of Aggression and Rage

by Siegel; Allan

• ISBN13: 9780415308342
• ISBN10: 0415308348
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-29
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

While other books concentrate on the different facets of aggression, these publications tend to focus on a single aspect of the subject and do not make any attempt to integrate biology and behavior. This lack of integration in the literature has created a major gap in our current understanding of the factors that influence aggressive actions.The Neurobiology of Aggression and Rage is an up-to-date review and analysis of the biological factors and processes involved in the expression and control of rage and aggressive behavior. Focusing on the understanding of the anatomical substrates of the major forms of aggression, the text also examines their basic underlying physiological, neurochemical, and genetic mechanisms. It integrates various levels of analysis, including neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, genetic, and neurochemical, in which homologies are shown between humans and lower forms with respect to normal and abnormal expressions of aggressive behavior.Written by a renowned researcher who has dedicated the past 40 years to studying the neurobiology of aggression and rage, this unique book updates our knowledge of the facts, issues, theories, and scientific approaches used in the study of aggressive processes. It provides insight and education for society and may ultimately lead to improved therapies to help control this misunderstood emotion.

Table of Contents

What Is Aggression?	1	(16)
Animal Models of Aggression	2	(3)
Other Models of Aggression	5	(1)
Is Aggressive Behavior Bimodal?	5	(9)
Offensive and Defensive Behavior	5	(1)
Offense	6	(1)
Defense	7	(1)
Aggression Induced by Brain Stimulation in Rat: Limitations of Offense--Defense Dichotomy	8	(1)
Defensive Rage (Affective Defense) versus Predatory Attack	9	(1)
Do Equivalents to Affective Defense and Predatory Attack Exist in Humans?	10	(1)
Affective Defense	10	(1)
Predatory Attack	11	(2)
Hostile versus Instrumental Aggression	13	(1)
Summary	14	(1)
References	14	(3)
History of the Neurology of Aggression and Rage	17	(12)
Effects of Ablations	17	(1)
Attempts to Identify Anatomical Locus of Rage Mechanism, and Notion of ``Sham Rage''	18	(1)
More Selective Forebrain and Brainstem Lesions	19	(3)
Hypothalamus	19	(2)
Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray	21	(1)
Limbic Structures	21	(1)
Stimulation of Regions Mediating Aggression and Rage	22	(2)
References	24	(5)
The Neuroanatomy of Aggression and Rage	29	(24)
Neuroanatomical Methods	29	(2)
Pathways Mediating Defensive Rage in Cats	31	(8)
Hypothalamus	31	(6)
Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray	37	(2)
Pathways Mediating Predatory Attack in Cats	39	(2)
Relationship between Predatory Attack and Defensive Rage: Linkage between Medial and Lateral Hypothalamus	41	(3)
Hypothalamic Aggression in Rats	44	(4)
Nature of Attack Response	45	(1)
Attack Sites in Rats	46	(1)
Efferent Pathways from Hypothalamus Mediating Attack in Rats	47	(1)
Summary	48	(1)
References	49	(4)
Physiological Processes and Mechanisms	53	(28)
Diencephalon and Brainstem	53	(1)
Relative Roles of Hypothalamus, Brainstem, and Other Regions in Expression of Aggression and Rage	53	(7)
Hypothalamus	54	(1)
Midbrain PAG and Related Structures	55	(3)
Evidence from Studies Conducted in Rats	58	(1)
Aggression in Other Species Induced by Brain Stimulation	59	(1)
Physiological Properties of Stimulation-Induced Aggression and Rage	60	(12)
Modulation from Hypothalamus and Periaqueductal Gray	60	(1)
Other Effects of Electrical Stimulation of Attack Sites in Cats	61	(1)
Neurophysiological Relationships	62	(1)
Other Regions Associated with Rage and Aggression	62	(1)
Role of Sensory Processes in Aggressive Behavior	63	(1)
Olfaction	63	(1)
Tactile Stimulation	64	(3)
Motor Aspects of Predatory Attack	67	(2)
Behavioral Properties of Attack Behavior	69	(1)
Discriminative Properties of Aggression	69	(1)
Reinforcing Properties of Rage and Aggression	69	(2)
Aggression or Feeding?	71	(1)
Avoidance, Play, and Predatory Attack	72	(1)
Summary	72	(2)
References	74	(7)
Limbic System I: Behavioral, Anatomical, and Physiological Considerations	81	(46)
Hippocampal Formation	82	(6)
Anatomical Considerations	82	(1)
Relationship to Aggression and Rage	83	(5)
Septal Area	88	(6)
Anatomical Considerations	88	(1)
Relationship to Aggression and Rage	88	(6)
Amygdala	94	(13)
Anatomical Considerations	94	(1)
Afferent Connections	95	(1)
Efferent Connections	96	(1)
Relationship to Aggression and Rage	96	(6)
Effects of Seizures	102	(1)
Seizures Induced by Electrical Stimulation of Amygdala	102	(2)
Effects of Amygdaloid Seizures on Spontaneously Elicited Attack	104	(3)
Prefrontal Cortex and Cingulate Gyrus	107	(6)
Background	107	(1)
Anatomical Considerations	108	(1)
Relationship to Aggression and Rage	108	(5)
Related Structures of Limbic Forebrain: Substantia Innominata and Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis	113	(3)
Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis	113	(1)
Anatomical Considerations	113	(1)
Relationship to Aggression and Rage	113	(1)
Substantia Innominata	114	(1)
Anatomical Considerations	114	(1)
Relationship to Aggression	115	(1)
Limbic System and Human Aggression	116	(2)
Summary	118	(1)
References	119	(8)
Limbic System II: Functional Neuroanatomy	127	(34)
Methods Used	127	(1)
Study Results	128	(20)
Hippocampal Formation	128	(1)
Principal Findings	128	(1)
Conclusions	129	(1)
Septal Area	130	(1)
Principal Findings	130	(1)
Conclusions	131	(1)
Amygdala	132	(1)
Principal Findings	132	(1)
Basomedial Nucleus	132	(1)
Cortical Nucleus	133	(1)
Medial Nucleus	133	(1)
Amygdalo-Hippocampal Area	134	(1)
Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis	134	(1)
Anterior Amygdaloid Area	135	(1)
Lateral Nucleus	136	(1)
Central Nucleus	136	(1)
Basolateral Nucleus	137	(1)
Prepyriform Cortex	137	(1)
Entorhinal Cortex	137	(1)
Substantia Innominata	138	(1)
Conclusions	138	(2)
Prefrontal Cortex and Associated Thalamus Nuclei	140	(1)
Principal Findings	140	(2)
Medial Prefrontal, Sulcal, and Infralimbic Cortices	142	(2)
Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus	144	(1)
Midline Thalamic Nuclei	144	(3)
Conclusions	147	(1)
Overall Conclusions	148	(9)
Abbreviations Used in Figures	157	(1)
References	158	(3)
The Neurochemistry of Rage and Aggression	161	(62)
Acetylcholine	162	(4)
Synthesis and Removal	162	(1)
Distribution and Functions	163	(1)
Role of ACh in Aggression and Rage	163	(1)
Effects of Systemic Administration of Cholinergic Agents	163	(1)
Effects of Intracerebral Microinjections of Cholinergic Agents	164	(1)
Genetic Approach	165	(1)
Summary	165	(1)
Norepinephrine	166	(5)
Synthesis and Removal	166	(1)
Distribution and Functions	166	(1)
Role of Norepinephrine in Aggression and Rage	166	(1)
Effects of Systemic and Intracerebroventricular Administration of Noradrenergic Agents	166	(1)
Neurochemical Measurements	167	(3)
Summary	170	(1)
Dopamine	171	(4)
Synthesis and Removal	171	(1)
Distribution and Functions	171	(1)
Role of Dopamine in Aggression and Rage	172	(1)
Effects of Systemic and Intracerebroventricular Administration of Dopaminergic Agents	172	(2)
Neurochemical Measurements	174	(1)
Genetic Approaches	174	(1)
Intracerebral Administration of Dopaminergic Compounds	174	(1)
Summary	175	(1)
Serotonin	175	(9)
Synthesis and Removal	175	(2)
Distribution and Functions	177	(1)
Role of Serotonin in Aggression and Rage	177	(1)
Lesions or Stimulation of Serotonergic Nuclei	177	(1)
Neurochemical Depletion of Serotonin	178	(1)
Depletion of Serotonin Levels by Diet	179	(1)
Genetic Manipulation of Brain Serotonin Levels	180	(1)
Peripheral Administration of Serotonergic Compounds	181	(1)
Central Administration of Serotonergic Compounds	182	(1)
Neurochemical Measurements and Approaches	183	(1)
Summary	184	(1)
Peptides	184	(1)
Opioid Peptides	184	(7)
Characterization	184	(1)
Distribution and Functions	185	(1)
Role of Enkephalins in Aggression and Rage	185	(1)
Studies Conducted in Rodents	185	(1)
Studies Conducted in Cats	186	(1)
Systemic Administration of Opioid Compounds	186	(1)
Intracerebral Administration of Opioid Compounds	186	(5)
Summary	191	(1)
Substance P	191	(3)
Characterization, Distribution, and Functions	191	(1)
Role of SP in Rage and Aggression	191	(3)
Cholecystokinin (CCK)	194	(3)
Characterization, Distribution, and Functions	194	(1)
Role of CCK in Defensive Rage Behavior	195	(1)
Summary	196	(1)
Amino Acids	197	(7)
Excitatory Amino Acids (Glutamate)	197	(1)
Synthesis and Removal	197	(1)
Distribution and Functions	198	(1)
Role of Excitatory Amino Acids in Defensive Rage Behavior	198	(2)
Summary	200	(1)
Inhibitory Amino Acids (GABA)	200	(1)
Synthesis and Removal	200	(1)
Distribution and Functions	200	(1)
Role of Inhibitory Amino Acids in Defensive Rage and Predatory Attack Behavior	201	(3)
Summary	204	(1)
Can Substances of Abuse, Psychotropic Drugs, and Antidepressant Drugs Influence Aggression?	204	(6)
Substances of Abuse	204	(1)
Opioid Peptides	204	(1)
Alcohol: Linkage between Alcohol Consumption and Violent Behavior	205	(3)
Psychotropic and Antidepressant Drugs	208	(1)
Summary	209	(1)
References	210	(13)
Aggression and Hormonal Status	223	(28)
M. Demetrikopoulos
A. Siegel
Testosterone and Aggressive Behavior	223	(11)
Experimental Manipulation of Testosterone Levels	223	(3)
Seasonal Variations in Testosterone Levels	226	(2)
Testosterone Levels during Development	228	(2)
Testosterone's Role in Human Aggression	230	(4)
Estrogen and Aggressive Behavior	234	(1)
Experimental Manipulation of Estrogen Levels	234	(1)
Naturally Occurring Variations in Estrogen Levels	235	(1)
Estrogen Levels during Development	236
Progesterone and Aggressive Behavior	234	(4)
Experimental Manipulation of Progesterone Levels	237	(1)
Progesterone Levels during Development	238	(1)
Adrenal Steroids and Aggressive Behavior	238	(1)
Modulation of Hormonal-Aggression Interactions by Ethanol and Illicit Drugs	239	(1)
Comments and Conclusions	239	(2)
References	241	(10)
Aggression and Immune Function	251	(18)
M. Demetrikopoulos
A. Siegel
Social Status Effects on Immunity	251	(3)
Stable Hierarchical Groups	251	(2)
Hierarchy Formation	253	(1)
Summary	254	(1)
Effects of Aggression on Recipient's Immune Function	254	(4)
Social Disruption	255	(1)
Social Confrontation	256	(1)
Summary	257	(1)
Effects of Aggression on Perpetrator's Immune Function	258	(3)
Social Isolation--Induced Fighting	258	(1)
Resident--Intruder Interaction	258
Strain Differences in Behavior and Immune Function	257	(3)
Aggression, Hostility, and Marital Conflict: Effects on Immunity in Humans	260	(1)
Summary	260	(1)
Can Immune Events Affect Aggression?	261	(2)
Immune Challenge Effects	261	(1)
Autoimmune Disorder Effects	262	(1)
Potential Mediators	262	(1)
Summary	262	(1)
Converging Neuronal Circuitry	263	(3)
Role of Cytokines	263	(1)
Role of Periaqueductal Gray	264	(1)
Secondary Stress Effects	264	(1)
Summary	264	(2)
Overall Summary	266
References	265	(4)
Genetics and Aggression	269	(8)
Studies Conducted in Animals	269	(1)
Early Behavioral Studies	269	(1)
Recent Studies	270	(1)
Genetic Effects on Neuroanatomic Circuitry and Neurotransmitter--Receptor Systems	271	(1)
Studies Conducted in Humans	272	(1)
Summary	273	(1)
References	273	(4)
Future Directions and Perspectives	277	(8)
References	283	(2)
Index	285