Scientists discover that “peaceful transformation” of the brain can turn aggression into friendship

In a discovery that can change our understanding of social behavior, scientists identified a specific brain region that acts like switching between aggressive and friendly interactions. The groundbreaking research published in nature today reveals how small structures in the emotional center of the brain can be manipulated to reduce aggressive behavior and promote positive social connections.

Researchers at Mount Sinai Medical College use advanced brain mapping techniques to point out the cortical amygdala, a structure involving processing odors, as a key controller for social behavior. Research shows that the region helps determine whether animals will respond to social encounters in an aggressive or friendly manner.

“Aggression is an evolutionary conservative act that controls social hierarchy and protects valuable resources,” explains the host author Dr. Antonio Aubry. “However, aggression becomes maladaptive and for patients and Caregivers pose a threat. Therefore, modeling and understanding the causes of behaviors of aggression is a healthy focus.”

Using complex network analysis to examine brain activity at the single-cell level, the team found that the cortical amygdala is an important hub in the brain’s social decision-making network. The region becomes particularly active when dealing with social cues and positive encounters.

The most striking finding was when researchers discovered that they could reduce aggressive behavior and increase friendly social interaction by inhibiting activity in this brain area. When they inhibit the activity of the cortical amygdala, previously aggressive animals became more social and confrontational.

The research team adopted an innovative approach to map the activity of the entire brain during social interactions. By analyzing complex neural networks, they identified the cortical amygdala as the master regulator that coordinates with other brain regions to shape social behavior.

The region seems particularly sensitive to social signals, especially those received through odors – a key significance that many species recognize. The study found that cells in this field are specifically targeting social cues, enhancing their importance and affecting whether encounters can lead to aggressive or friendly behavior.

Particularly interesting is the discovery that this brain region appears to differ in both men and women, suggesting that social behavior regulation may have important gender-specific components. The team found that manipulating this brain region had a stronger impact on male social behavior than women.

These discoveries open new avenues to understand how the brain processes social information and makes decisions about social interactions. This knowledge may lead to new treatments for conditions involving social behavioral challenges or excessive aggression.

In a series of precise experiments, researchers were able to demonstrate that this brain region specifically influences aggressive behavior without affecting other social behaviors or the ability to process general sensory information. This specificity makes it a particularly promising target for potential therapeutic interventions.

By identifying key brain regions and their downstream connections, the study provides a detailed map of how social behavior can be controlled at the neural level. The team found that the cortical amygdala was associated with several other brain regions known to be involved in social behavior, forming a network that collectively determines the animal’s response to social situations.

These findings represent a significant advance in our understanding of how the brain controls social behavior, suggesting that seemingly complex social decisions may be controlled more directly by specific brain circuits than previously thought. This study not only provides new insights into the biological basis of social behavior, but also proposes potential new directions for therapeutic interventions in the event of impaired social behavior.

This research, funded by multiple research institutions, demonstrates the power of combining advanced neuroscience technologies with careful behavioral analysis to unlock the mysteries of how our brains control social interactions.