Chemistry of cowering: Study shows bullies' scary effect on brain

New research in mice suggests that bullying can cause changes in brain chemistry that trigger anxiety and make it hard to forge friendships.

/ iStockPhoto

(CBS) Can being bullied damage youngsters' self-esteem and undermine their ability to make new friends and forge family relationships? Apparently so, at least if they have fur and four paws.

In a new study from Rockefeller University, mice that had been pushed around by dominant males grew unusually nervous in the presence of new company. That change of behavior could affect everything from courtship and "pair-bonding" to parenting abilities, researcher Yoav Litvin said in a written statement.

Litvin and colleagues conducted a series of experiments in which young mice were put into cages with larger, older mice. After the turf battles that the young mice inevitably lost, the mice were separated by a partition that allowed them to see, smell, and hear one another - a stressful experience for the loser.

When the bullied mice were then put into cages with non-threatening mice, they seemed unusually fearful and reserved. And when researchers then examined the brains of the bullied mice, they found changes indicating heightened sensitivity to a hormone called vasopressin - which in humans is associated with aggression, stress, and anxiety.

The good news? The discovery of the brain chemistry changes suggests doctors may be able to develop drugs to counteract the effects of bullying in humans.

"The identification of brain neuroendocrine systems that are affected by stress opens the door for possible pharmacological interventions," Litvin said in the statement. "Additionally, studies have shown that the formation and maintenance of positive social relationships may heal some of the damage of bullying."

The study was published in Physiology & Behavior.

[rwsmith29456]

I was quite able to physically take care of myself, but abuse at home made the idea of any confrontation sickening (see Clockwork Orange). I was an obvious target. People knew they could attack my low self esteem before I even had a chance to fight back. The few times I cut loose before my emotions overwhelmed me I was like a movie Shaolin priest. I could kick butt physically, but would shatter at a touch emotionally.

[mnbrant]

I was bullied at work. It really does have an effect. I quit my job and feel alot better. My diabetes has pretty much gone etc. I wouldn't rely on some drug to fix the situation. You probably need to get out of the situation altogether

[Taylor_IGG]

If your kids are getting bullied, you might like to know that Emmy/Sundance award winning film maker Lee Hirsch is finishing up a brilliant?documentary?that exposes the epidemic of bullying.

The film maker is asking for parents of children affected by bullying to join him in completing tis film (which is premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in NY next month) by contributing money to his IndieGoGo fundraiser campaign (http://igg.me/p/5116?a=59174&i=shlk) in return for cool perks like autographed stills from the film, advance DVD copies, or even an IMDB credit on the film!