How serotonin affects aggression and friendly social behavior
Serotonergic modulation of aggressive and prosocial behaviors
This project explores whether serotonin in specific brain circuits can reduce aggression and promote friendly social behavior, which may be relevant to people with autism who have aggression or low frustration tolerance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238881 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are studying how serotonin changes whether animals act aggressively or prosocially to learn what might underlie similar problems in autism. They will use light-based tools to control serotonin release and chemical sensors to watch serotonin levels in real time. Tiny head-mounted microscopes will let them see which nerve cells respond, and a frustration task will show how context changes behavior. The goal is to map the cells and timing that shift behavior so future therapies can target them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism who experience frequent aggression, irritability, or low frustration tolerance would be the most relevant future beneficiaries.
Not a fit: Individuals without social or aggression symptoms, or those seeking immediate clinical treatments, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this animal-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific brain circuits or timing targets that lead to new treatments to reduce aggression and improve social behavior in autism.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier animal studies indicate serotonin can alter aggression and social behavior, but the detailed cell-level and timing mechanisms proposed here are less tested.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eshel, Neir — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Eshel, Neir
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.