Neural mechanisms of aggression across species

Lischinsky, Julieta E.; Lin, Dayu

doi:10.1038/s41593-020-00715-2

Cited by 192 publications

(151 citation statements)

References 143 publications

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“…8,9 In line with this, studies in rodents show that stimulating the hypothalamus [10][11][12] and specific neural populations within the amygdala 13,14 can trigger aggressive behavior. A second network, including cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, lateral septum, and insula, is thought to mediate the top-down regulation of aggression in humans, 6,8 rodents, [15][16][17][18][19][20] and other mammals [21][22][23][24] by modulating subcortical circuits. 25 Within this network, cingulate cortex, and specifically anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), seems to have a crucial gating function for aggressive behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A central role for anterior cingulate cortex in the control of pathological aggression

et al. 2021

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A central role for anterior cingulate cortex in the control of pathological aggression

et al. 2021

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“…When combined with viral vector approaches, these mouse lines give investigators an unprecedented ability to monitor brain circuit activity to gain insights in the circuit bases of behaviors. Such studies are now revealing detailed circuit mechanisms involved in social reward (Dolen, Darvishzadeh, Huang, & Malenka, 2013;Nardou et al, 2019), parental care (Lischinsky & Lin, 2020) and aggression (Lischinsky & Lin, 2020) that undoubtedly have implications for our own species. However, any human or animal psychologist knows that mice are not small, furry humans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Origins of Diversity in Social Behavior

Young

Zhang

2021

Japanese Journal of Animal Psychology

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Here we discuss the origins of diversity in social behavior by highlighting research using the socially monogamous prairie vole. Prairie voles display a rich social behavioral repertoire involving pair bonding and consoling behavior that are not observed in typical laboratory species. Oxytocin and vasopressin play critical roles in regulating pair bonding and consoling behavior. Oxytocin and vasopressin receptors show remarkable diversity in expression patterns both between and within species. Receptor expression patterns are associated with species differences in social behaviors. Variations in receptor genes have been linked to individual variation in expression patterns. We propose that "evolvability" in the oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes allows for the repurposing of ancient maternal and territorial circuits to give rise to novel social behaviors such as pair bonding, consoling and selective aggression. We further propose that the evolvability of these receptor genes is due to their transcriptional sensitivity to genomic variation. This model provides a foundation for investigating the molecular mechanisms giving rise to the remarkable diversity in social behaviors found in vertebrates.

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“…Levels of testosterone in circulation must also be considered within the entire sex steroid signaling system, which provides a diversity of routes to increase aggression without a change in testosterone (Ball and Balthazart, 2019; de Bournonville et al, 2020; Fuxjager and Schuppe, 2018; Schuppe and Fuxjager, 2019). Furthermore, aggression is regulated by many other mechanisms beyond testosterone, including arginine vasotosin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, serotonin, and progesterone (Goodson, 2005; Goodson et al, 2012; Goymann et al, 2008; Lischinsky and Lin, 2020; Nelson and Chiavegatto, 2001). As evolutionary behavioral endocrinology continues to embrace complexity, application of this comparative framework to more species will unveil the shared vs. diverse neuroendocrine mechanisms that facilitate behavioral evolution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nesting strategy shapes territorial aggression but not testosterone: a comparative approach in female and male birds

Lipshutz

Rosvall

2020

Preprint

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Our understanding of the proximate and ultimate mechanisms shaping competitive phenotypes primarily stems from research on male-male competition for mates, even though female-female competition is also widespread. Obligate secondary cavity-nesting has evolved repeatedly across avian lineages, providing a useful comparative context to explore how competition over limited nest cavities shapes aggression and its underlying mechanisms across species. Although evidence from one or another cavity-nesting species suggests that territorial aggression is adaptive in both females and males, this has not yet been tested in a comparative framework. We tested the hypothesis that cavity-nesting generates more robust territorial aggression, in comparison to close relatives with less restrictive nesting strategies. Our focal species were two obligate secondary cavity-nesting species and two related species with more flexible nesting strategies in the same avian family: tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) vs. barn swallow (Hirundo rustica); Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) vs. American robin (Turdus migratorius). We assayed conspecific territorial aggression, and found that cavity-nesting species physically attacked a simulated intruder more often than their close relatives. This pattern held for both females and males. Because territorial aggression is often associated with elevated testosterone, we also hypothesized that cavity-nesting species would exhibit higher testosterone levels in circulation. However, cavity-nesting species did not have higher testosterone in circulation for either sex, despite some correlative evidence that testosterone is associated with higher rates of physical attack in female tree swallows. Our focus on a competitive context that is relevant to both sexes – competition over essential breeding resources – provides a useful comparative framework for co-consideration of proximate and ultimate drivers of reproductive competition in females and males.

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Neural mechanisms of aggression across species

Cited by 192 publications

References 143 publications

A central role for anterior cingulate cortex in the control of pathological aggression

A central role for anterior cingulate cortex in the control of pathological aggression

On the Origins of Diversity in Social Behavior

Nesting strategy shapes territorial aggression but not testosterone: a comparative approach in female and male birds

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