Researchers have conducted a study to figure out what causes rage in people using mice. I'm not making this up; it's true. Researchers at New York University have discovered that when male mice suddenly became violent, it is a result of changes in their brain structure. (Sarcasm Alert) This makes perfect sense. I'm sure when these mice were cut off in traffic, publicly humiliated or even suffered a grave injustice, it drove them crazy. Now that we know what makes mice enraged it is probably the same for people, I'm sure we can start to focus on important research like curing male pattern baldness.
Below are excerpts of the study in bold and my valuable insights are in italics.
The researchers say their findings - published in the journal Current Biology - could help us better understand what triggers aggression in other animals, including humans.
Yeah, there are certain people I know who you just don't mess with their cheese. This study may result in important contributions to society such as preventing arguments over cheese flavored tortilla chips, cheese dip or what is the best cheesy movie of all time.
The researchers found that by exciting brain cells in the lateral septum, they were able to alter their activity and repeatedly start and stop violent outbursts in the male mice, known as "septal rage," in which they suddenly attacked other mice.
Yeah, I think maybe someone may have excited a few too many brain cells of the researchers. Maybe they experienced some intense “septal rage” because they had to work on this study. (Sarcasm Alert) I understand the cheese consumption of the researchers also increased during the time they spent on this study. I bet an increase in cheese consumption during research involving mice will lead to another study. It will involve researchers, cheese and probably be funded by the cheese industry.
For their study, Lin and colleagues surgically inserted a probe into the brains of male mice, using the probe to "excite" certain groups of brain cells by shining a light on them. The researchers found that by exciting brain cells in the lateral septum, they were able to alter their activity and repeatedly start and stop violent outbursts in the male mice.
This is a very disturbing way to treat mice. It would also probably be a lot of fun. I'm sure animal rights people would never let this be a game at an amusement park. I bet the people running a game that enables people to "excite" the brain cells of a mouse would make a lot of money. Playing the crazy to calm to enraged mouse game would never get boring.
The team notes that septal rage has not been identified in humans, but they believe their findings could help pinpoint the brain circuitry involved in other forms of aggression in humans.
Now that makes this study something worth reading. They think by putting probes into the brains of mice, so the mice are in a state of rage, and publishing a paper about it is beneficial. Especially since the “septal rage” hasn't been identified in humans. (Sarcasm Alert) But, let us all believe this is groundbreaking research into what makes people enraged. All I can say is if I had paid for this study there would not be a need for a brain probe to detect my rage. I would develop septal rage, total rage, be pissed off and I wouldn't even calm down for cheese. Unless of course, it was brie cheese. That is my favorite cheese. Who could be upset if they're eating brie cheese? I think I just had an idea for another study.
Here is a link to the story.
ENRAGED MICE STUDY PRESS RELEASE
