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Understanding the brain mechanisms which underlie behavior is one of the most challenging tasks of modern biology. The study of these mechanisms can be approached using a variety of biological systems as models, depending essentially on the type of question being asked and the technical approach which is considered. In vertebrates, the study of brain neurochemistry in relation to behavior e,xpression has made tremendous progress during the last two decades. In particular, much at tention has been devoted to the effect of steroid hormones on brain structure and activity in connection with social and mainly reproductive behavior. This book exemplifies some of the major trends in the field. I did not attempt to cover exhaustively all the work that has been done in this area but rather to present a series of selected reviews on the molec ular and cellular brain mechanisms most directly related to social behavior. This selection obviously reflects my own interests but also, I believe, highlights those areas of research in which important progress has been made in recent years. A number of brain biochemical or cellular mechanisms which could be related to behavior, but have not been formally demonstrated to be so, are consequently ignored. The focus here is on social behavior and thus steroid-dependent processes are covered in priority. This choice of course leads us to ignore major trends in brain and behavior research but this is, I hope, clearly reflected in the title of the volume.
List of contents
1 Hormonal and Behavioral Rhythms Related to Reproduction.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Circadian Rhythms.- 3 Ultradian Rhythms.- 4 Circannual Rhythms.- 5 Rhythms of Gonadotropin Secretion.- 6 Rhythms in Sexual Behavior.- 7 Summary.- References.- 2 Gonadal Steroid Hormone Receptors and Social Behaviors.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Involvement of Steroid Hormone Receptors in Female Sexual Behavior.- 3 Involvement of Steroid Hormone Receptors in Male Sexual Behavior.- 4 Sex Differences in Receptors and Adult Sexual Behavior.- 5 Development of Estrogen, Androgen, and Progestin Receptors.- 6 Species Comparisons.- 7 Neurotransmitter Regulation of Steroid Hormone Receptors.- 8 Other Behaviors.- 9 Alternative Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Regulation of Behavior.- 10 Conclusions.- References.- 3 Steroid Metabolism and the Activation of Social Behavior.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Methods of Study.- 3 Metabolic Pathways for Androgens.- 4 Control of Male Copulatory Behavior.- 5 Control of Other Social Behaviors.- 6 Control of the Activity of Testosterone Metabolizing Enzymes.- 7 Changes in the Activity of T-Metabolizing Enzymes in Relation to Social Behavior.- 8 Conclusions.- References.- 4 Neurotransmitter Systems and Social Behavior.- 1 Colinergic Neural Systems and Social Behavior.- 2 GABAergic Neural Systems and Social Behavior.- 3 Serotonergic Neural Systems and Social Behavior.- 4 Catecholaminergic Neural Systems and Social Behavior.- 5 Neuroendocrine Peptides and Social Behavior.- References.- 5 Neuropeptides and the Social Aspects of Female Reproductive Behavior in the Rat.- 1 Introduction to Peptidergic Regulation of Social Behavior.- 2 Behavioral Actions of Peptides.- 3 Components of Female Reproductive Behavior Form a Matrix of Social Behaviors.- 4 LHRH Signal and Reproductive Behavior.- 5 Speculations and Conclusions on the Peptidergic Requirements for Lordosis Behavior.- References.- 6 Cell Generation, Migration, Death, and Growth in Neural Systems Mediating Social Behavior.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Overview of Model Systems.- 3 Cellular Processes which Sculpt Neural Structure.- 4 Conclusion.- References.- 7 Pheromones: Behavioral and Biochemical Aspects.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Fish (Class Chondrichthyes and Class Osteichthyes).- 3 Amphibians (Class Amphibia).- 4 Reptiles (Class Reptilia).- 5 Birds (Class Aves).- 6 Mammals (Class Mammalia).- 7 Conclusions.- References.
