Neurobiological mechanisms for impulsive-aggression: the role of MAOA.
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.
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Hayley M
HM
Dorfman
Andreas
A
Meyer-Lindenberg
Joshua W
JW
Buckholtz
D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000235:genetics*; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009446:Neurobiology
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase