Preference for same sex partners: Basic concepts and its occurrence in non-human mammals

摘要: This chapter focuses on same-sex behaviors in nonhuman animals. Preference for having sex with partners of one's own is called homosexuality contemporary society. There are not many examples preferences among mammals. Indeed, such have been firmly established only one subpopulation rams and primate species. Explanations the preference terms alterations endocrine system failed, there no convincing evidence a peculiar structure brain or monkeys preferring to members their sex. It appears that learning can explain Endocrine manipulations during period sexual differentiation rodents reliable consequences probability display copulatory reflexes. Perinatal gonadal hormones reduce likelihood lordosis enhance mount. The effects unclear, but some data suggest adult determine this preference. Estrogens given adulthood cause males, whereas androgens animals females. Gonadal may be important neural circuitry involved reflexes as mount lordosis. More complex behaviors, arbitrary motor patterns used approaching partner, do seem much affected by secreted early life.