Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Ute Habel

Aggressive behavior shows striking gender differences. Cross-cultural research shows that men are more likely to engage in physical aggression, while women tend to use indirect forms of aggressive behavior. Aggression is a multifactorial phenomenon influenced by situational, genetic, psychological and other factors. Despite being a transdiagnostic feature in numerous mental disorders, gender-specific differences and the underlying influencing factors have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Many findings originate from older publications and methodologically sound and in particular behavior-based investigations are rare. This article provides a narrative literature review that summarizes the current state of research on gender differences in aggression in selected mental disorders, including substance use disorders, psychotic disorders and borderline personality disorder. The implications for future research and the clinical practice are discussed.

While anyone can behave aggressively, some people are more prone to aggression than others. We present a neuro-cognitive model and consider several inter-individual differences that confer risk for aggression. Forms of atypical cognitive function include a hyperreactive acute threat response, poor emotion regulation, and mechanisms involved in choosing when to aggress. We show dysfunction in the neural systems mediating these functions may account for aggression in people high in psychopathy/callous unemotional traits, irritability/anger, hostility, impulsivity, and low in frustration tolerance. We then review promising interventions including psychological therapies and pharmaceuticals that might influence the neuro-cognitive underpinnings of these constructs. Although there is no overwhelming “one size fits all” approach to treating aggression, identifying the neural mechanisms implicated in these traits may improve individualized treatments.

Psychopathy is one of the greatest risk factors for serious and persistent violence. In order to detect its neurobiological substrates, we examined 39 male psychopathic subjects and matched controls using structural MR imaging and the Psychopathy Check-List (PCL-R). Individual brain region volumes were calculated using the Julich-Brain and AAL3 atlases. Associations of region volumes with the PCL-R dimensions among psychopathic subjects and differences between both groups were analysed. PCL-R factor 2 assessing lifestyle and antisocial behaviour showed in the psychopathic sample negative associations with volumes of several regions, including pons, nuclei of basal ganglia, thalamus, basal forebrain (CH-4), cerebellar regions and areas in orbitofrontal, dorsolateral-frontal and insular cortices. These findings suggest dysfunctions in specific frontal-subcortical circuits, which are known to be relevant for behavioral control. In contrast, the interpersonal-affective PCL-R factor 1 showed only weak positive and negative associations with orbitofrontal, dorsolateral-frontal and left hippocampal areas (CA1, subiculum), among others, indicating that involved brain regions might be affected to a variable degree in different individuals. The group comparison yielded a significantly reduced total brain volume in psychopathic subjects relative to controls, while pronounced regional focuses of volume differences were found only in the right subiculum, suggesting an interindividually variable pattern of structural deviations in the brains of psychopathic subjects. In conclusion, these findings are compatible with the dimensionality of the PCL-R construct, and suggest a particulary strong association of antisocial behavior to smaller volumes in widespread subcortical-cortical brain regions.

Introduction: Everyday life requires correct processing of emotions constantly, partly occurring unconsciously. This study aims to clarify the effect of emotion perception on different event-related potentials (ERP; P100, N170). The P100 and N170 are tested for their suitability as electrophysiological markers in unconscious processing.

RWTH Aachen University is one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and engineering education. Renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, RWTH Aachen collaborates closely with industry and is part of the prestigious IDEA League. The university offers a wide range of programs and is known for its cutting-edge facilities and interdisciplinary approach to solving global challenges.

Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) is a German national research institution that pursues interdisciplinary research in the fields of energy, information, and bioeconomy. It operates a broad range of research infrastructures like supercomputers, an atmospheric simulation chamber, electron microscopes, a particle accelerator, cleanrooms for nanotechnology, among other things. As a member of the Helmholtz Association with roughly 6,800 employees in ten institutes and 80 subinstitutes, Jülich is one of the largest research institutions in Europe.