Figure 2.

Mechanisms through which alcohol and trauma lead to aggressive behavior. Alcohol consumption could lead to increased aggression by interacting with neurotransmitter systems, causing structural or functional changes in certain brain regions, or altering certain aspects of behavior and cognition. Alcohol consumption can be precipitated by trauma exposure and is exacerbated in individuals with comorbid mental health conditions. Genetic factors can interact with environmental factors, such as childhood adversity to increase the likelihood of developing PTSD. Trauma exposure, in turn, can lead to functional changes in brain regions and lead drastic changes in behavior and cognitive functions. Abbreviations: Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC); Amygdala (Amy); Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC); Hippocampus (Hipp); Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC); Nucleus Accumbens (NAc).