Cited by 182Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual OffendingNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

The neurobiological basis of human aggression: A review on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms

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Waltes, Regina, Chiocchetti, Andreas G., Freitag, Christine M.·2016·American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics

Abstract

Aggression is an evolutionary conserved behavior present in most species including humans. Inadequate aggression can lead to long‐term detrimental personal and societal effects. Here, we differentiate between proactive and reactive forms of aggression and review the genetic determinants of it. Heritability estimates of aggression in general vary between studies due to differing assessment instruments for aggressive behavior (AB) as well as age and gender of study participants. In addition, especially non‐shared environmental factors shape AB. Current hypotheses suggest that environmental effects such as early life stress or chronic psychosocial risk factors (e.g., maltreatment) and variation in genes related to neuroendocrine, dopaminergic as well as serotonergic systems increase the risk to develop AB. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the genetics of human aggression based on twin studies, genetic association studies, animal models, and epigenetic analyses with the aim to differentiate between mechanisms associated with proactive or reactive aggression. We hypothesize that from a genetic perspective, the aminergic systems are likely to regulate both reactive and proactive aggression, whereas the endocrine pathways seem to be more involved in regulation of reactive aggression through modulation of impulsivity. Epigenetic studies on aggression have associated non‐genetic risk factors with modifications of the stress response and the immune system. Finally, we point to the urgent need for further genome‐wide analyses and the integration of genetic and epigenetic information to understand individual differences in reactive and proactive AB. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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  • Decades of animal studies have yielded strong neurochemical and physiological evidence pointing to conserved common pathways across species, such as serotoninergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission and hormonal signaling.

    “Decades of animal studies have yielded strong neurochemical and physiological evidence that points to conserved common pathways across species such as serotoninergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission and hormonal signaling [10].”

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Authors
Waltes, R., Chiocchetti, A. G., & Freitag, C. M.
Affiliations
University Hospital Frankfurt (DE)
Corresponding author
Freitag, Christine M.
Venue
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-10-22
Volume
171
Issue
5
Pages
650-675
ISSN
  • 1552-4841 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-485X
OpenAlex
W2144244293
Cited by
182
References
247
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 8
FWCI
1.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
European Commission (602407 ‐ FemNAT‐CD)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords
aggression, proactive aggression, reactive aggression, heritability, genetic association, epigenetics, early life stress, maltreatment, nonshared environment, dopaminergic system, serotonergic system, neuroendocrine system, impulsivity, stress response, immune system, twin studies, animal models
MeSH terms
Aggression, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Dopamine, Humans, Risk Factors, Serotonin, Social Behavior, Epigenesis, Genetic, Neuroendocrine Cells, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genetic Association Studies, Gene-Environment Interaction

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