Brains, Food, Smell And Sex
A.E. Brain
By Zoe Brain
23 June, 2010
http://aebrain.blogspot.com/2010/06/brains-food-smell-and-sex.html (http://aebrain.blogspot.com/2010/06/brains-food-smell-and-sex.html)
The across-species genetic conservation of intercellular and extracellular chemical communication enables unicellular and multicellular organisms to functionally distinguish between self and non-self. Non-self olfactory/pheromonal input from the social environment elicits a vertebrate neuroendocrine response. The organization and activation of this neuroendocrine response modulates the concurrent maturation of the mammalian neuroendocrine system, the reproductive system, and the central nervous system during the development of sexual preferences that may be expressed in sexual behavior.