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How does the amygdala affect aggression in mammals?

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red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) — Aggressive behaviour A pair of red deer stags (*Cervus elaphus*) competing for possession of a female in the rutting season.

In mammals, the amygdala—a structure located deep within the temporal lobes—plays a significant role in the hierarchical neural system that modulates aggressive behavior.1

While other areas of the forebrain, such as the hypothalamus, are primarily responsible for generating coordinated aggressive attacks, the amygdala acts as a higher center that modulates this activity. Research indicates that the amygdala has an excitatory effect on aggression, which contrasts with the inhibitory role of the septum.1

As part of the limbic system, the amygdala is involved in processing emotional significance and mediating behavioral expressions of emotional states. Its influence on aggression is part of a complex interaction between neural structures and biochemical factors, such as the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain.12