A03: Modulation of aggression by acute threat

The neural and neurochemical patterns of acute threat as modulators of aggression in BPD will be investigated in this project. The modulation of aggressive responses under acute threat is induced by the threat-of-shock paradigm. The main translational research question is if and how aggressive responses are modulated by threat, and which neurofunctional and neurochemical patterns underlie these responses during safe and threat conditions. MR spectroscopy will be used in patients to assess glutamate and GABA levels. In a further translational approach, the least and the most aggressive/impulsive recombinant inbred mouse lines identified in C01 in Frankfurt will be tested in Mannheim with animal MR spectroscopy at 9.4T to determine the relationship between glutamate, GABA, impulsivity, and aggression in these mouse lines as well as in comparable brain regions assessing neurofunctional and neurochemical patterns.