The neurobiology of social aggression

Bullying and aggression carry heavy societal costs. For the first time, researchers have found a signalling mechanism in the brain that shapes social behavior -- specifically a growth factor protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), which affects social dominance. This novel discovery has implications for a deeper understanding of the neurobiology of aggression and bullying.