Can brain areas induce aggression?

Yes, certain brain areas can induce aggression. Key among these is the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). When this specific area is stimulated, it can trigger aggressive behaviors in various species, including cats, mice, and potentially humans. Andrew Huberman points out that this phenomenon was first observed by Walter Hess, who found that electrical stimulation of the VMH in cats induced dramatic aggression, transforming a calm cat into a raging one almost instantly 1.

Further experiments have confirmed that stimulation of the VMH not only causes behavioral aggression but also evokes subjective feelings of aggression and anger in animals and humans. These newer studies highlight the role of the VMH and its interconnected neural circuits, such as the connection to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), in evoking specific aggressive behaviors like biting 2 3.

Huberman emphasizes that aggression arises from the activation of neural circuits rather than from a single brain area. The VMH, with its small collection of neurons, is integral to this entire process and is influenced by hormones like testosterone and estrogen 2 4.