Chapter 6 Flashcards
Mechanisms of copulation
- Intromission: The male inserts his penis into the female’s
vagina, made possible by lordosis. - Ejaculation: Occurs after multiple intromissions.
- Post-Copulatory Behaviors: The female may groom herself or
the male, move around the cage, or rest
Female-Initiated Mating Cues:
- Darting: The female quickly approaches and moves away from the male
- Ear Wiggling: Rapid movement of ears to signal receptivity
- Hopping: Short jumping movements that attract the male’s attention
What behaviors characterize:
- Full solicitation
- Partial solicitation
- Interception
- Darting and hopping
- Touchback or runby
- Disrupting another pair’s interaction
How does the presence of an estrous female affect male rodents?
Increases testosterone and mating motivation
What are Beach’s three components of female sexual behavior?
Attractivity: ability to attract a male
Proceptivity: active behaviors to initiate mating
Receptivity: responsiveness to males’ advances
How is the Female sexual behavior influenced by hormones such as estrogens and progestins?
Estradiol increases motivation/responsiveness
Progesterone facilitates/inhibits sexual behavior
Testosterone has a secondary role, but does not influence sexual motivation
What are evidences of hormonal influence in female sexual behavior?
- Ovulatory changes in mate preference
(preference for masculine faces and
voices during peak fertility). - Increased social engagement and
sexual initiation during ovulation
How can female attractivity be measured in a lab (rats)?
Male effort to reach a female (e.g., bar-pressing experiments in primates).
Comparison between different females in the presence of males [males spends more time with estrous vs non estrous female]
How does estrogen impact attractivity in non human animals?
By altering pheromone release and physical
appearance
What are common proceptive behaviors in primates and rodents?
Primates: Present genitalia. Approaching, vocalizing, touching, maintaining proximity
Rodents: Darting, hopping, crouching
What happens to attractivity in ovariectomized females?
Attractivity decreases, but estradiol treatment restores it.
(ex: Ovariectomized female monkeys are rarely
mounted. After estradiol injection, mounting frequency increases)
What changes in human female behavior occur near ovulation?
Preference for masculine faces and voices
Increased social engagement and sexual initiation
Subtle changes in face, scent, and voice
How do male olive baboons respond to female physical changes during estrus?
They are highly attracted to the swelling of the female’s perineum (induced by high estrogen concentrations)
What is the Coolidge Effect?
Males show reduced interest in a female after repeated mating but remain attracted to novel females.
What is the male acceptance ratio?
The proportion of solicitations by a female that result in male mounting behavior.
*variability among men
What is the role of chemosensory cues in attractivity?
Many species use pheromones to attract males, and males detect them through the vomeronasal organ (VNO)
What is the Flehmen response?
Curl back their upper lip, exposing their front teeth and gums.
Inhale with their nostrils usually closed.
Often hold this position for several seconds
How does estradiol treatment influence proceptivity in ovariectomized females?
Restores it
How does proceptivity affect reproductive success?
Ensures mating occurs with high-quality males and increases fertilization chances.
How do male traits influence female proceptivity?
- Females prefer dominant, high-status males.
- Castrated males elicit fewer approach responses from females.
What animals engage in the pacing behavior of alternate approaches and retreats?
Rodents, primates, and ungulates.
What component of female sexual behavior is necessary and sufficient for fertile copulation?
Receptivity (consummatory phase of
mating behavior)
How do ringdove females initiate receptivity?
By hearing their own cooing
*Male-induced cooing leads to hormonal
changes
