Aggressive-Behavior on TRR379

Altered resting-state functional connectivity in patients with alcohol use disorder and first-degree relatives: a group independent component analysis

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with widespread functional changes across the brain, particularly within networks supporting executive control, attention, and self-referential processing. However, it remains unclear whether similar neural patterns are present in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of individuals with AUD, who have increased genetic and environmental risk to develop the disorder. We examined resting-state functional connectivity differences within large-scale brain networks among 19 AUD patients, 12 FDRs, and 24 healthy controls (HCs), and assessed associations with abstinence duration in AUD. Grey matter volume was also assessed using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with HCs, AUD patients showed increased connectivity within the frontoparietal (FPN) and default mode network (DMN). FDRs also exhibited altered FPN and DMN connectivity relative to HCs, suggesting a possible familial or exposure-related effect. Additionally, FDRs showed heightened precentral connectivity and reduced precuneus connectivity within the sensorimotor network (SMN). Within the AUD group, longer abstinence duration was associated with increased FPN connectivity and decreased connectivity within the salience (SN) and dorsal attention network (DAN), consistent with partial functional normalization. No significant group differences were observed in grey matter volume. Overall, these findings highlight both persistent and potentially reversible alterations in large-scale brain networks associated with chronic alcohol exposure. Identifying common network-level connectivity patterns in AUD patients and FDRs can inform our understanding of neural correlates relevant to vulnerability to alcohol-related disorders.

Global metadata catalogue of youth cohorts with genetic and aggression-related data

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aggressive behavior in youth is partially heritable and clinically and socially important. Despite its importance, research is fragmented across disciplines and cohorts, limiting large-scale genetically informed analyses. Therefore, we systematically mapped existing cohorts that include measures of aggression and genetic data from participants under 18 years of age. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed using 5,400 automatically generated queries combining five controlled vocabularies (age, mental health, aggression, data type, study type). From 5,254 unique records (retrieved January 20, 2025), a large language model pipeline extracted explicitly named cohorts, followed by semi-automated alias deduplication. Human reviewers then screened 188 studies using standardized inclusion criteria: documented accessibility, available genetic data, sample size > 1,000, inclusion of minors < 18 years old, and validated aggression phenotypes. Forty-four cohorts met all criteria, representing ∼ 890,000 individuals worldwide. Technical validation assessed the reproducibility of the automated name extraction and inter-rater agreement. The catalog supports discovery of cohorts and facilitates future cross-cohort studies of aggression-related outcomes in youth.

Targeting aggression with prefrontal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Heightened aggression is associated with behavioural and neural deficits in inhibitory control. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise in facilitating inhibitory control and reducing aggression. However, the mixed effects and widespread electric fields of tDCS warrant more precise stimulation methods. High-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) may enhance focality to target the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), a key region in inhibitory control. In a double-blind and sham-controlled study, we investigated behavioral and neural differences between anodal and sham HD-tDCS in a subsequent Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP). Anodal HD-tDCS was applied at 1.5 mA for 20 min over the rIFG. Reference electrodes were located at TP8, PZ, FC3, and FP1. 41 healthy male participants were randomly assigned to either anodal (19) or sham (22) HD-tDCS and completed the TAP during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Anodal HD-tDCS did not directly reduce aggression; however, the stimulation weakened the effect of provocation on aggressive behaviour. Imaging results indicated that anodal HD-tDCS was associated with a positive provocation-related increase of bilateral parietal lobule (IPL) activation. Taken together, behavioural and neuroimaging findings suggest that anodal rIFG stimulation may engage the inhibitory control network as reflected in reduced responsiveness to provocation and increased activation during provocation.

Assessment of life history of aggression: development and psychometric characteristics

Fri, 05 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000

The Life History of Aggression (LHA) assessment was administered to up to 252 subjects. In addition to a total LHA score, subscale scores for Aggression, Social Consequences and Antisocial Behavior, and Self-directed Aggression were calculated. Test-retest stability, interrater agreement, and internal consistency reliability were excellent both for the LHA Total score and the LHA Aggression subscore. There were moderately strong correlations between these scores and both self-reports of aggressive tendency (Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory: n = 214) and recent overt aggression (Overt Aggression Scale-Modified for Out-patients: n = 61). LHA Total scores were highest among subjects with Antisocial or Borderline Personality Disorder. These results support the use of the LHA assessment, and especially the LHA Aggression subscore, as a measure of life history of aggressive behavior.

The long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences on externalizing aggressiveness: sensitive periods during childhood and adolescence

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with the perpetration of aggressive behavior across the lifespan has repeatedly been demonstrated. However, whereas age-specific impacts of ACEs on neural and psychological development are discussed, little is known about sensitive periods during childhood and adolescence in which ACEs may exert the most severe effects on an individual’s propensity for aggression. Thus, the present study retrospectively assessed ACEs during early childhood (up to 5 years), late childhood (6–11 years), and adolescence (12 years and above) in 204 adults and examined age-dependent relations to current externalizing aggressiveness. Although the general ACE-aggression link could be replicated, no clear evidence emerged for age-specific impacts. While the total ACE burden was highest during adolescence and only ACEs during adolescence were associated with increased adult aggressiveness, the strengths of the relationships between ACEs and aggressiveness did not differ significantly depending on the examined age groups. Nevertheless, our results underscore the need for future research to implement more sophisticated age-sensitive approaches to examine the association of ACEs with aggressive behavior as an important basis for the design of promising prevention and intervention measures.