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- Title
Neural networks underlying trait aggression depend on <italic>MAOA</italic> gene alleles.
- Authors
Klasen, Martin; Wolf, Dhana; Eisner, Patrick D.; Habel, Ute; Vernaleken, Ingo; Schlüter, Thorben; Mathiak, Klaus; Repple, Jonathan; Zepf, Florian D.; Eggermann, Thomas; Zerres, Klaus
- Abstract
Low expressing alleles of the <italic>MAOA</italic> gene (<italic>MAOA</italic>-L) have been associated with an increased risk for developing an aggressive personality. This suggests an <italic>MAOA</italic>-L-specific neurobiological vulnerability associated with trait aggression. The neural networks underlying this vulnerability are unknown. The present study investigated genotype-specific associations between resting state brain networks and trait aggression (Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire) in 82 healthy Caucasian males. Genotype influences on aggression-related networks were studied for intrinsic and seed-based brain connectivity. Intrinsic connectivity was higher in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) of <italic>MAOA</italic>-L compared to high expressing allele (<italic>MAOA</italic>-H) carriers. Seed-based connectivity analyses revealed genotype differences in the functional involvement of this region. <italic>MAOA</italic> genotype modulated the relationship between trait aggression and VMPFC connectivity with supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and areas of the default mode network (DMN). Separate analyses for the two groups were performed to better understand how the genotype modulated the relationship between aggression and brain networks. They revealed a positive correlation between VMPFC connectivity and aggression in right angular gyrus (AG) and a negative correlation in right SMG in the <italic>MAOA</italic>-L group. No such effect emerged in the <italic>MAOA</italic>-H carriers. The results indicate a particular relevance of VMPFC for aggression in <italic>MAOA</italic>-L carriers; in specific, a detachment from the DMN along with a strengthened coupling to the AG seems to go along with lower trait aggression. <italic>MAOA</italic>-L carriers may thus depend on a synchronization of emotion regulation systems (VMPFC) with core areas of empathy (SMG) to prevent aggression.
- Subjects
AGGRESSION (Psychology); MONOAMINE oxidase A gene; AMYGDALOID body; HYPOTHALAMUS; PREFRONTAL cortex
- Publication
Brain Structure & Function, 2018, Vol 223, Issue 2, p873
- ISSN
1863-2653
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00429-017-1528-6