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Testing for Operant Self-Administration of Aggression in Female Mice
by Sarah P. Low
Faculty Advisor: Regina Mangieri, PhD
Aggression and acts of violence incur overwhelming psychological and physical costs on societal function. In previous studies, males across species have commonly been implicated as the main perpetrators of violent behaviors, including appetitive aggression. Appetitive aggression is reward-motivated and self-administered by the perpetrator. For instance, a subset of dominant male mice have been observed to self-administer aggression by operantly lever-pressing for access to subordinate males to attack. Yet, there is a relative dearth of the examination of aggressive behavior in female mice beyond maternal, territorial, and dominance contexts. The goal of this study was to gauge whether retired, female dam mice, or “resident” females, self-administer aggression during fixed-ratio and progressive ratio testing in a resident-intruder paradigm. The results indicated that while a subset of the retired female dams showed a preference for the active lever, no residents exhibited aggressive behavior towards the intruders. Thus, retired female dams do not display appetitive aggression when presented with the opportunity to lever-press for aggressive interaction.