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International Handbook of Anger pp 39–59Cite as

Constructing a Neurology of Anger

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Abstract

In keeping with general neurological principles, earlier stage processing of verbal and visual triggers for anger must involve posterior and middle temporal cortices. As this processing typically evolves, it evokes memory of related events (e.g., past insults) and other relevant information from more anterior temporal areas. This mutual interaction shapes perceptions of anger-provoking challenges which activate cortical/subcortical circuits that prime and mediate angry/aggressive actions, e.g., cingulate motor areas 23 and 24 and medial/basal amygdala. The initial appraisals of anger in mid- and anterior temporal lobe are also transmitted anteriorly to ventromedial and orbitofrontal cortex. The latter integrates anger-provoking perceptions, e.g., combining the insulting verbal comment with the visual sneer, and weighs inhibitory factors like received or anticipated punishment, empathy with the offender and his relative social status. The combined result determines angry aggressive responses, if any, by disinhibiting the subcortical circuits activated by the temporal lobe. Interactions between ventromedial and orbitofrontal areas and/or feedback to the temporal lobe govern the escalation of aggression.

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Acknowledgments

Collection of the EEG data was supported by a grant to M. Potegal from the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation and by National Research Service Awards to M. Potegal from the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (F33 NS09638) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (F33 HD08208). At that time, the first author was a Fellow in the laboratory of Richard J. Davidson, where work was supported in part by an NIMH Center for Behavioral Sciences Research Grant (P50-MH52354) to the Wisconsin Center for Affective Neuroscience (R.J. Davidson, Director) and by an NIMH Research Scientist Award (KO5-MH00875).

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  1. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Michael Potegal

  2. Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-Universität, Warburg, Germany

    Gerhard Stemmler

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  1. Michael Potegal
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  2. Gerhard Stemmler
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Correspondence to Michael Potegal .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Pediatrics, Div. Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Delaware St. SE., 420, Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, USA

    Michael Potegal

  2. FB Psychologie, Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany

    Gerhard Stemmler

  3. University of South Florida, 7th Ave. South 140, St. Petersburg, 33701, Florida, USA

    Charles Spielberger

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Potegal, M., Stemmler, G. (2010). Constructing a Neurology of Anger. In: Potegal, M., Stemmler, G., Spielberger, C. (eds) International Handbook of Anger. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89676-2_4

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