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Neurobiological Mechanisms for Impulsive-Aggression: The Role of MAOA

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Neuroscience of Aggression

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 17))

Abstract

Aggression may be present across a large part of the spectrum of psychopathology, and underlies costly criminal antisocial behaviors. Human aggression is a complex and underspecified construct, confounding scientific discovery. Nevertheless, some biologically tractable subtypes are apparent, and one in particular—impulsive (reactive) aggression—appears to account for many facets of aggression-related dysfunction in psychiatric illness. Impulsive-aggression is significantly heritable, suggesting genetic transmission. However, the specific neurobiological mechanisms that mediate genetic risk for impulsive-aggression remain unclear. Here, we review extant data on the genetics and neurobiology of individual differences in impulsive-aggression, with particular attention to the role of genetic variation in Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) and its impact on serotonergic signaling within corticolimbic circuitry.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Hayley M. Dorfman & Joshua W. Buckholtz

  2. Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

    Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg

  3. Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Joshua W. Buckholtz

Authors
  1. Hayley M. Dorfman
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  2. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
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  3. Joshua W. Buckholtz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua W. Buckholtz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Moses Hunt Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry, Pharmacol & Neurosci, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA

    Klaus A. Miczek

  2. Dept of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

    Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg

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Dorfman, H.M., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Buckholtz, J.W. (2013). Neurobiological Mechanisms for Impulsive-Aggression: The Role of MAOA. In: Miczek, K., Meyer-Lindenberg, A. (eds) Neuroscience of Aggression. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2013_272

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