title: Sexual differentiation of motivation: a novel mechanism?
abstract: Sex differences in motivation are apparent for the motivation to engage in sexual behavior, the motivation to take drugs of abuse, and the motivation to engage in parental behavior. In both males and females there is an increase in NAcc DA associated with motivated behaviors. Here it proposed that sex differences in the regulation of DA activity in the ascending mesolimbic projections may underlie sex differences in motivation. In particular, sex differences in the neuroendocrine regulation of this brain system play a role in the expression of sex differences in motivated behaviors. Here it is proposed that sexual differentiation of motivation is mediated, at least in part, by a novel mechanism in which ovarian hormones secreted at puberty in the female actively feminize the DA system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, 205 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. jbbecker@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009042:Motivation; D012201:Reward; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D004298:Dopamine