JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Role of Social Familiarity in the Transmission of Aggression.

  • Published In: Journal of Neuroscience, 2026, v. 46, n. 18. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Choy, Jessie Y. S. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article reviews research by Adjei et al. (2025) investigating how social familiarity influences the observational learning and transmission of aggression in mice. The study found that male mice only exhibited increased aggression after observing familiar conspecifics engage in aggressive encounters, a process mediated by excitatory neurons in the posterior–ventral medial amygdala (MeApv). Activation of these MeApv neurons was necessary and sufficient for socially transmitted aggression, highlighting the MeApv as a neural locus integrating social identity with aggressive behavior. The findings emphasize the role of close social relationships in propagating aggression and suggest implications for understanding sex differences and potential interventions in aggression-related disorders. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Neuroscience. 2026/05, Vol. 46, Issue 18, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Law
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0270-6474
  • DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0056-26.2026
  • Accession Number:193663949
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