Discover brain cells that determine the desire to cause aggression or sex

US scientists have discovered neurons that control both human desire to use force and sexuality.

David Anderson, a California Institute of Technology biologist in the US, and his genetically altered colleagues to change some types of nerve cells that control the forceful behavior in the hypothalamus of the rat brain. These cells are involved in estrogen receptors, a hormone. After genetic modification, brain cells become more sensitive to light.

The team used light pulses to stimulate cells. They found that the higher the number of light pulses, the more often male mice attacked the same type (including male and female mice). But when the number of light pulses decreased, the number of mating times of the male mice increased, Nature reported.

Artwork: blogspot.com

Scientists have long known the link between innate social behaviors such as fighting and sex. But this is the first time they have demonstrated that specific neurons in the brain cause those behaviors.

Experimental results show that the level of activity of nerve cells in the brain can make animals decide to fight or make love at any time.

"We can change specific behavior - like fighting or mating - of a mouse by increasing or decreasing light pulses , " the team confirmed.

Because the hypothalamus in the human brain is similar in structure to the hypothalamus in the rat brain, the team thinks their test results may be true for humans. Research has also shown that estrogen plays an important role in male behavioral control.