Glial tone of aggression
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SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF THE MECHANISM OF CEREBELLAR GLIAL CELL ACTIVITY IN REGULATING AGGRESSION.
view moreCREDIT: YUKI ASANO, KO MATSUI
Aggression is often associated as a negative emotion. Uncontrolled aggression can lead to conflict, violence and negative consequences for individuals and society. Yet that does not that mean that aggression serves no purpose. It is an instinctive behavior found in many species that may be necessary for survival. The key is managing and channeling aggression.
In a recent study using mice, researchers at Tohoku University have demonstrated that neuron-glial interactions in the cerebellum set the tone of aggression, suggesting that future therapeutic methods could rely on adjusting glial activity there to manage anger and aggression.
The findings were detailed in the journal Neuroscience Research on November 24, 2023.
Scientists have recently recognized the role of the cerebellum in non-motor functions such as social cognition. A malfunctioning cerebellum can occur in autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, leading to social interaction difficulties. In particular, it has been reported that a region of the cerebellum, known as the vermis, is associated with aggression in humans. Therefore, the researchers investigated the possibility that Bergmann glial cells in the cerebellar vermis regulate the volume of aggression in mice.
"Cells in the brain can be divided into neurons and glia, and although glia occupy approximately half of the brain, their participation in the brain's information processing, plasticity, and health has long been an enigma," says Professor Ko Matsui of the Super-network Brain Physiology lab at Tohoku University, who led the research. "Our newly created fiber photometry method provides a gateway for understanding the physiology of glia."
Matsui and his colleagues employed the resident-intruder model, where one mouse (the intruder) goes into the territory of another mouse (the resident). When the unfamiliar male mouse enters the cage, quite commonly, a series of fights break out between the resident male mouse and the intruder. Each combat round lasted about 10 seconds, and these rounds were repeated at a frequency of approximately one per minute. The superiority and inferiority of the resident and intruder dynamically switched within each combat round.
The fiber photometry method revealed that intracellular Ca2+ levels in cerebellar glia decreased or increased in conjunction with the superiority or inferiority of the fight, respectively. When the combat broke up, the researchers observed 4 to 6 Hz theta band local field potentials in the cerebellum, along with a sustained increase in Ca2+ levels in the glia. Optogenetic stimulation of cerebellar glia induced the emergence of the theta band, causing an early breakup of the fighting.
Glia have been shown to control the local ionic and metabotropic environment in the brain and also to release transmitters that can affect neuronal activity in the vicinity. The results of this study suggest that the theta band cerebellar neuronal activity is regulated by the activity of Bergmann glial cells, thereby demonstrating that cerebellar glial cells play a role in regulating aggression in mice.
Lead study investigator, Yuki Asano, says that future anger management strategies and clinical control of excessive aggression and violent behavior may be realized by developing a therapeutic strategy that adjusts glial activity in the cerebellum. "Imagine a world without social conflict. By harnessing the innate ability of the cerebellar glia to control aggression, a peaceful future could be become reality."
Theta band local field potential (LFP) in the cerebellum upon combat breakup.
Fiber optic measurement of the local brain environment of the cerebellum.
CREDIT
Yuki Asano, Ko Matsui
JOURNAL
Neuroscience Research
ARTICLE TITLE
Glial tone of aggression
Book Review: Conan the Rebel by Poul Anderson
I have covered the Conan stories I most wanted to cover over months, maybe years. You can find the full listing of my Robert E. Howard reviews here. However, after Howard’s death there were several authors who contributed to the mythos. Given that I have read and reviewed many of Poul Anderson’s work on this blog, it is worth reviewing his sole addition to the Conan universe.
Anderson is a fine action writer. However, his style of fantasy is removed from Howard’s by decades. This book was first published in 1980, almost 50 years removed from Howard’s death. Hence, it’s going to be a different style, since fantasy literature has changed since Howard wrote.
This story is set in the middle of the short Queen of the Black Coast. As such, Belit the pirate queen is a main character, and Conan’s cohort. When their ship raids a merchant vessel, they discover that Belit’s brother is held captive by the followers of the snake god Set. With Conan and Belit together, they feel invincible, so they plan to rescue her brother. However, it is a trap laid for Conan.
Here’s an example of Anderson’s action prose:
He smote. A Stygian helmet rang. The wearer’s head snapped back. Dazed by the pain in his neck, he faltered. His shield sank. Conan’s sword screamed as it swung, into the upper spine of the soldier beside the first. Blood spouted. A third man stumbled over the falling corpse, and Conan slew him on the return swing.
CONAN: THE REBEL, PAGE 74
He does a good job of establishing action and difficulty, but the descriptions lack an emotion that Howard’s had. Environments are also sparsely described, though Howard did that at times. I love Anderson’s fantasy work, but this seems so different than the work he’s done previously that it feels like a mismatch.
If you like both Conan and Poul Anderson, this is worth a read. And if you’ve exhausted Robert E. Howard’s stories of Conan, this is a good post-Howard story to read. Otherwise, I would say it’s not worth reading for general fantasy readers.
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