by The Mount Sinai Hospital

Graphic representation of study findings. Credit: Mount Sinai Health System

Neural activity in the cortical amygdala determines whether mice engage in aggressive or pro-social behavior, according to a new study. By performing a network analysis on whole-brain activity of male mice, Mount Sinai scientists have identified the cortical amygdala—an olfactory cortical structure—as a key brain region in promoting aggression. The findings have been published in Nature.

This brain region is activated by olfactory cues from male mice and by aggressive behavior. Inhibiting the cortical amygdala reduces aggressive behavior and induces pro-social behavior.

This is the first study that identified a brain region that can prevent aggressive social behavior and induce pro-social behavior. Cells in the cortical amygdala respond specifically to male social stimuli, thereby enhancing their salience and promoting attack behavior.

Mount Sinai's Dr. Antonio Aubry, Ph.D., first author of the paper said, "Aggression is an evolutionarily conserved behavior that controls social hierarchies and protects valuable resources. However, aggression can become maladaptive and pose threats to patients and caregivers.

"Modeling and understanding the behavioral etiology of aggressive behavior is therefore a health priority. In order to discover novel brain regions which are involved in aggression behavior, we performed a network analysis on brain wide activity at the single cell level. This analysis identified the cortical amygdala, an olfactory cortical structure, as a key brain region in promoting aggression.

"This brain region is activated by olfactory cues from male mice and by aggressive behavior. Importantly, we found that inhibiting the cortical amygdala and its downstream circuits reduces aggressive behavior and induces pro-social behavior."

More information: A crucial role for the cortical amygdala in shaping social encounters, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08540-4 www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08540-4

Journal information: Nature 

Provided by The Mount Sinai Hospital