News Editor: Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD
Brain and Violence: New Clues
Researchers at the Hopkins University created mice with a missing gene, which is responsible for the synthesis of Nitric Oxide (NO). These animals were apparently normal, but they presented violent behavior, viciously attacking other mice. They also exhibited a high degree of sexual persistence toward females mice.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a neurotransmitter found in regions of the brain that, among other functions, regulates the emotional behavior. S. Snyder believes that NO imposes a break in the social behavior. Without this break, the mouse does not recognizes the signal of the female rejecting them, or of males that are not wanting to fight.