ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the sexual contro l m echanism itself: w hat it consists o f and h o w it operates. First, w e consider w hat and w here it is.

The brain and sexual behaviour

T he search for regions o f the brain especially involved in sexual behaviour has concentrated on female m am m als. M uch o f it has been concerned w ith the hypothalam us, a region w hich has already been im plicated in the horm one experim ents. This comprises the floor o f the posterior part o f the fore-brain (the diencephalon)* (figure 59); it also has visceral functions relating to feeding, w ater balance (drinking and urination), tem perature control and sleep.