Understanding The Pathways To Aggression

描述（由申请人提供）：以往的研究表明，某些神经心理特征，包括社会情绪信息处理、情绪调节和行为抑制/冲动与攻击有关。此外，动物和人类病变证据的汇聚线强调了特定神经基底，如杏仁核（AMYG）、眶内侧前额叶皮层（OMPFC）和背前扣带皮层（dACC）在社会情绪加工和行为抑制（如认知控制）中的作用。因此，本研究的目的是利用双胞胎样本收集特定神经心理特征和功能性脑反应的多模态数据，以阐明可能与攻击行为相关的不同遗传途径。具体来说，我们建议在宾夕法尼亚大学双胞胎研究项目的200对成年双胞胎（100 MZ, 100 DZ）中使用一系列基于实验室的神经心理学评估来测量社会情绪信息处理、情绪调节和行为抑制/冲动。此外，我们将进一步对社会情绪信息处理（SEIP）任务中的杏仁核和OMPFC功能进行bold敏感功能磁共振成像（fMRI）研究，并对冲动任务中的dACC功能进行fMRI研究，以评估大脑反应的神经生理模式。通过研究这些特征在多大程度上与攻击和相关行为具有共同的基因，我们有独特的机会通过研究神经心理特征和大脑反应的神经生理模式作为遗传影响攻击和相关行为的潜在介质，来“弥合表现型和基因型之间的差距”。此外，将基于理论的多元模型应用于攻击、社会情绪信息处理和冲动的多模态评估，我们也可以开始更好地理解攻击的潜在结构。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Previous studies have suggested that certain neuropsychological traits, including socio- emotional information processing, emotion regulation, and behavioral inhibition/impulsivity are associated with aggression. Moreover, converging lines of animal and human lesion evidence have highlighted the role of specific neural substrates such as the amygdala (AMYG), orbital- medial prefrontal cortex (OMPFC), and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in socio- emotional processing and behavioral inhibition (e.g., cognitive control). Therefore, the goal of the present study is to collect multimodal data on specific neuropsychological traits and functional brain reactivity using a sample of twins in order to elucidate the different genetic pathways that may be related to aggressive behavior. Specifically, we propose to measure socio-emotional information processing, emotion regulation, and behavioral inhibition/impulsivity using a series of laboratory-based neuropsychological assessments in a population-based sample of 200 adult twin pairs (100 MZ, 100 DZ) from our PENNTwins Study Program. In addition, we will further conduct BOLD-sensitive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of Amygdala and OMPFC function during a socio-emotional information processing (SEIP) task and fMRI studies of dACC function during an impulsivity task to assess neurophsyiological patterns of brain response. By investigating the extent to which these characteristics share common genes with aggression and related behaviors, we have the unique opportunity to "bridge the gap" between phenotype and genotype by examining neuropsychological traits and neurophysiological patterns of brain response as potential mediators of the genetic influence on aggression and related behaviors. Moreover, by applying theoretically-based multivariate models to multimodal assessments of aggression, socio- emotional information processing, and impulsivity, we can also begin to better understand the underlying structure of aggression. Public Health Relevance: Aggression and interpersonal violence are leading worldwide public health problems, both from the viewpoint of the individual who engages in these behaviors and of the people/property that these behaviors target. One of the goals of psychiatric genetic research on aggression is to uncover specific genetic variants that are risk factors for aggression and related disorders. However, it is unlikely that genes code for aggressive behavior directly, but rather influence behavior through indirect mechanisms or pathways. To gain a better understanding of these potential genetic mechanisms, twin studies can be used to identify biologically-based traits that may serve as endophenotpyes for aggression and related behaviors.