Researchers Identify Brain Circuit for Female Sexual Rejection

Researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation have identified a neural circuit in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of female mammals that governs sexual rejection. This study highlights how progesterone-sensitive neurons in the VMH act as a switch between acceptance and rejection of mating attempts, depending on the female's reproductive state. The findings, which have implications for understanding human reproductive and social behaviors, suggest that abnormalities in this brain region could be linked to conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome and altered social behaviors.