Neurobiology of aggression 1 A Social Neuroscience Perspective on the Neurobiological Bases of Aggression

The discovery of brain regions and mental processes that contribute to aggressive behavior has long been a significant concern in psychology. Although much progress has been made, identification of the underlying neural mechanisms remains elusive (Davidson, Putnam, & Larson, 2000). It is thought that neural functioning mediates aggressive behavior by biasing mental processes toward aggressive responses to social situations (Raine, 2008). Relying on advances in the emerging field of social neuroscience, this chapter reviews research that has increased our understanding of the neural mechanisms associated with human aggression. This review contains a brief discussion of relevant brain anatomy, followed by a review of structural and functional brain abnormalities in highly aggression populations. Next, I shall discuss the application of a recent social neuroscience dual-process model, the X- and C-system, to the study of anger and aggression. This is followed by a discussion of social neuroscience research that is consistent with social psychological theory. Finally, I discuss the role played by top down executive control in determining aggressive behavior. Anatomy Neurobiology of aggression