Scientists Identify Brain Circuit for Female Sexual Rejection

Researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation have identified a neural circuit in the anterior ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) that regulates sexual rejection in female mammals based on their fertility cycle. Progesterone-sensitive neurons in this brain region become active in non-receptive females, prompting rejection behaviors, while their activity decreases during fertility, allowing mating. This discovery highlights the brain's dual control system for balancing sexual receptivity and rejection, providing insights into the neural mechanisms governing reproductive behavior.