Bidirectional Relationships between Testosterone and Aggression: A Critical Analysis of Four Predictions
Bidirectional Relationships between Testosterone and Aggression: A Critical Analysis of Four Predictions
复制标题
睾酮与攻击性之间的双向关系：四个预测的批判性分析
DOI：
10.1093/icb/icac100
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发表时间：
2022
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Rosvall, Kimberly A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
George, Elizabeth M.;Rosvall, Kimberly A.
实验性升高的睾酮（T）通常会导致攻击性增强，许多不同物种（包括雄性和雌性）都有这样的例子。事实上，T和攻击性之间的关系是行为生态学和内分泌学交叉研究中研究最充分和最富有成果的领域之一。这种关系也被假设为是双向的（即，T影响攻击性，攻击性影响T），导致四个关键预测：（1）具有较高T水平的个体比具有较低T水平的个体更具攻击性。(2)攻击性的季节性变化反映了T分泌的季节性变化。(3)侵略性的领土相互作用刺激T分泌增加。(4)T暂时升高会暂时增加攻击性。这些预测涵盖了一系列的时间尺度，从单一的时间快照，到快速波动，再到季节性时间尺度的变化。更复杂的是，大多数预测也可以通过个体之间的比较或个体内的重复采样来解决。在我们的评论中，我们探讨了预测结果的频谱如何塑造我们对T和攻击之间关系的理解。在所有情况下，我们都可以找到不支持最初预测的结果的例子。特别是，我们发现，预测1-3已被频繁测试，特别是使用一个独立的方法。我们发现这三个预测都得到了定性的支持，尽管也有许多研究不支持预测1和3。另一方面，预测4是我们认为过去关于这个主题的工作的核心基本假设，但很少被直接测试。我们建议，当T和侵略之间的关系是个人特定的或条件依赖的，那么这两个变量之间的正相关可能会被掩盖或逆转。从本质上讲，即使T可以影响攻击性，但这两个变量之间的许多假设或预测关系可能并不明显。展望未来，我们敦促更多地关注理解T和攻击之间的双向关系如何以及为什么会在时间尺度和个体之间变化。通过这样做，我们将更深入地了解激素在行为适应中的作用。
Experimentally elevated testosterone (T) often leads to enhanced aggression, with examples across many different species, including both males and females. Indeed, the relationship between T and aggression is among the most well-studied and fruitful areas of research at the intersection of behavioral ecology and endocrinology. This relationship is also hypothesized to be bidirectional (i.e., T influences aggression, and aggression influences T), leading to four key predictions: (1) Individuals with higher T levels are more aggressive than individuals with lower T. (2) Seasonal changes in aggression mirror seasonal changes in T secretion. (3) Aggressive territorial interactions stimulate increased T secretion. (4) Temporary elevations in T temporarily increase aggressiveness. These predictions cover a range of timescales, from a single snapshot in time, to rapid fluctuations, and to changes over seasonal timescales. Adding further complexity, most predictions can also be addressed by comparing among individuals or with repeated sampling within individuals. In our review, we explore how the spectrum of results across predictions shapes our understanding of the relationship between T and aggression. In all cases, we can find examples of results that do not support the initial predictions. In particular, we find that Predictions 1–3 have been tested frequently, especially using an among-individual approach. We find qualitative support for all three predictions, though there are also many studies that do not support Predictions 1 and 3 in particular. Prediction 4, on the other hand, is something that we identify as a core underlying assumption of past work on the topic, but one that has rarely been directly tested. We propose that when relationships between T and aggression are individual-specific or condition-dependent, then positive correlations between the two variables may be obscured or reversed. In essence, even though T can influence aggression, many assumed or predicted relationships between the two variables may not manifest. Moving forward, we urge greater attention to understanding how and why it is that these bidirectional relationships between T and aggression may vary among timescales and among individuals. In doing so, we will move toward a deeper understanding on the role of hormones in behavioral adaptation.