Association between the violence inhibitor and testosterone

[Volunto]

The full article with all sources can be found on the main page: https://antiviolence.io/en/#violence_inhibitor_and_testosterone

As we know, the male sex hormone testosterone is one of the causes of aggressive behavior. However, to avoid misunderstanding, it is worth looking at how this hormone is related to the violence inhibitor. One study on this issue tested the hypothesis that the pro-aggressive effect of testosterone arises from the suppression of the 5-HT system function and disproved it. Testosterone activation of aggression and serotonin inhibition of aggression work independently of each other. And the influence of serotonin on testosterone-induced aggression appears to be mediated by a parallel inhibitory pathway. And it is assumed that this influence occurs in such areas of the brain as the medial amygdala, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and lateral septum (septal area), where both sex hormone receptors and serotonergic nerve terminals are located.

This effect of serotonin is necessary to restrain aggression so that it does not cease to be an adaptive and functional behavior, and this conclusion is consistent with the violence inhibitor theory. And since testosterone does not disrupt its function, it cannot be the cause of uninhibited aggression. Of course, it increases aggressiveness but only within the natural inhibitory control.