ISSN:
1573-3297
Keywords:
GABAergic neurotransmission
;
intermale aggression
;
olfaction
;
opponent effect
;
steroids
;
testosterone
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Psychology
Notes:
Abstract A model to explain individual differences in mice for the propensity to attack male conspecifics is proposed. In the first part of the paper, the relation between olfaction and intermale aggression is discussed emphasizing the importance of olfactory cues provided by the opponnnt and their subsequent processing by the attacking male. The physiological role of GABA in the olfactory pathway is presented in the second part of the paper. The third part investigates the possible modulating action of steroids on the GABA-A receptor complex, intermale aggression, and olfaction. We hypothesize that at least part of the individual differences in the propensity to attack may be explained by a differential olfactory recognition and discrimination of the opponent as a stranger through a differential processing threshold of the olfactory cues provided by the urine of the opponent. A possible modulation of this threshold by steroids, especially testosterone, is also discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02359754
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