NURS 168: Gender & Play-Androgens and
Aggression UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is agression? - CORRECT ANSWER - -one organism doing something damaging to
another
-harm done with malevolent intent
-action or an act of attacking without provocation
More aggression definitions: - CORRECT ANSWER - -"aggression is a multifaceted
behavior...not a product of a single isolated system in the brain"
-"aggression is behavior aimed at harming or injuring another..."
Assertive - CORRECT ANSWER - -having/showing a confident and forceful personality
-confident, self confidence, positive, bold, decisive, strong willed
Where in the brain does aggression come from? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Mainly:
amygdala, Ventromedial nucleus, and Prefrontal cortex (PRC)
-Some: Basal Ganglia and Serotonergic system
Neurobiology of Aggression - CORRECT ANSWER - -amygdala perceives a threat
-activates the hypothalamus
-activates the pituitary gland/adrenal glands
-sympathetic nervous system
-adrenaline: increase HR, BP, RR, etc.
-Cortisol: increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream: energy
Removal of the amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER - significantly reduces fear and
aggression
, People with lesions in the amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER - lose ability to recognize
fearful or facial expression
What does stimulating the amygdala do? - CORRECT ANSWER - ignites rage
What do MRI's reveal about the amygdala? - CORRECT ANSWER - Amygdala-area
processing emotions; particularly fear/anxiety
What was the outcome of the Monkey Research? - CORRECT ANSWER - the study
suggested that the amygdala was involved with maintaining a position in social hierarchy
(aggression=dominance)
What was found in the autopsy of the young man who opened fire on a crowd at the University
of Texas? - CORRECT ANSWER - the autopsy revealed there was a tumor in his
amygdala
What influences the amygdala? - CORRECT ANSWER - stress hormones, testosterone,
pain, fear
-this are is involved with PTSD
-sends projections into the hypothalamus
What is the ventromedial nucleus? - CORRECT ANSWER - -tied to mating and fighting
-located in the middle, front of the hypothalamus
-may account for for the tension between the sex drive the aggression drive
How is the Frontal Cortex related to aggression? - CORRECT ANSWER - -helps to do
"the harder thing"
-not completely mature until about 25
-sends projections down to the amygdala telling it: "DON'T DO IT, I'M NOT GOING TO DO
IT"
Aggression UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is agression? - CORRECT ANSWER - -one organism doing something damaging to
another
-harm done with malevolent intent
-action or an act of attacking without provocation
More aggression definitions: - CORRECT ANSWER - -"aggression is a multifaceted
behavior...not a product of a single isolated system in the brain"
-"aggression is behavior aimed at harming or injuring another..."
Assertive - CORRECT ANSWER - -having/showing a confident and forceful personality
-confident, self confidence, positive, bold, decisive, strong willed
Where in the brain does aggression come from? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Mainly:
amygdala, Ventromedial nucleus, and Prefrontal cortex (PRC)
-Some: Basal Ganglia and Serotonergic system
Neurobiology of Aggression - CORRECT ANSWER - -amygdala perceives a threat
-activates the hypothalamus
-activates the pituitary gland/adrenal glands
-sympathetic nervous system
-adrenaline: increase HR, BP, RR, etc.
-Cortisol: increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream: energy
Removal of the amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER - significantly reduces fear and
aggression
, People with lesions in the amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER - lose ability to recognize
fearful or facial expression
What does stimulating the amygdala do? - CORRECT ANSWER - ignites rage
What do MRI's reveal about the amygdala? - CORRECT ANSWER - Amygdala-area
processing emotions; particularly fear/anxiety
What was the outcome of the Monkey Research? - CORRECT ANSWER - the study
suggested that the amygdala was involved with maintaining a position in social hierarchy
(aggression=dominance)
What was found in the autopsy of the young man who opened fire on a crowd at the University
of Texas? - CORRECT ANSWER - the autopsy revealed there was a tumor in his
amygdala
What influences the amygdala? - CORRECT ANSWER - stress hormones, testosterone,
pain, fear
-this are is involved with PTSD
-sends projections into the hypothalamus
What is the ventromedial nucleus? - CORRECT ANSWER - -tied to mating and fighting
-located in the middle, front of the hypothalamus
-may account for for the tension between the sex drive the aggression drive
How is the Frontal Cortex related to aggression? - CORRECT ANSWER - -helps to do
"the harder thing"
-not completely mature until about 25
-sends projections down to the amygdala telling it: "DON'T DO IT, I'M NOT GOING TO DO
IT"
