Aggression across sexes from a contextual- and circuit-based perspective

Abstract

Often referred to as a ‘fight,’ survival involves intense competition over resources. Threat displays and high-intensity attacks are just a few of the aggressive actions exhibited during these contests. Certain motor programs are species-specific, like the vibration of a rattlesnake tail. However, conserved behavioral features are found across species, which appear to be mirrored within the brain. Further parallels have been found across sexes between aggression-promoting contexts and the underlying neuronal circuits. Unraveling the complex web of conserved and variable circuit mechanisms has been considerably advanced by the generation of brain-wiring diagrams in adult female and male Drosophila melanogaster. Here, I will summarize current research, primarily in Drosophila, on how contexts, sensory cues, and internal states regulate aggression across sexes.