Figure 1. Experience-dependent changes in neural encoding of aggression.

(A) We propose that neural activity within individual nodes of the social behavior network may represent attack likelihood. Increases in activity bring the animal closer to a theoretical attack threshold (dotted lines): once neural activity crosses this threshold an attack is triggered in an all-or-none manner (arrows). Multiple attacks in quick succession constitute bouts (shaded background). (B) Different manners in which experience may change neural encoding of attack likelihood. Top: Changes in sensory gain where the same stimulus will drive an increased neural response following experience. Middle: Changes in a motivational internal state will drive a shift in overall activity levels, bringing an animal closer or further from the attack threshold. Bottom: Experience can lower or raise the attack threshold itself leading to a decrease or increase in the amount of input needed to “release” attack.