Programmed for Preference: The Biology of Same-Sex Attraction in Rams

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The sheep is a valuable model to test whether hormone mechanisms that sexually differentiate the brain underlie the expression of sexual partner preferences because as many as 8% of rams prefer same-sex partners. This review presents an overview and update of the experimental evidence that supports this hypothesis. New evidence is presented that demonstrates a critical role for kisspeptin-GnRH signaling for regulating stable fetal testosterone levels necessary for masculinization of brain and behavior. Although these studies provide substantial support for the idea that prenatal hormones program sexual preferences, further experimentation is needed to establish causality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12-15
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Volume114
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Programmed for Preference: The Biology of Same-Sex Attraction in Rams'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this