Neuro-cognitive systems that, when dysfunctional, increase aggression risk and the potential for translation into clinical tools

The goal of this narrative review paper is to consider forms of neurocognitive dysfunction that increase risk for reactive and instrumental aggression. Neuro-cognitive functions that appear to mediate, inhibit or moderate reactive and instrumental aggression are identified and data on the association between perturbations of these neuro-cognitive functions and aggression risk are considered. The neuro-cognitive functions considered are: the acute threat response, emotion regulation, reinforcement-based decision-making, response control, empathy (responsiveness to distress cues) and affiliation. Their functional roles, putative neural substrates and data indicating dysfunction in aggressive populations will be considered. Moreover, brief considerations will be given regarding the impact of early life stress (abuse and neglect) may have on their development. Finally, the current situation with respect to the potential utility of neuro-cognitive indices and how such neuro-cognitive systems might be assessed is considered. • Neuro-cognitive functions that inhibit or moderate reactive and instrumental aggression are identified and data include: the acute threat response, emotion regulation, reinforcement-based decision-making, response control, empathy (responsiveness to distress cues) and affiliation. • These neuro-cognitive functions have at least partially separable neural substrates. • Consideration of how these functions may be assessed clinically is given.