Hormones and sexual reward

There are different physiological processes that influence behavior. One of this processes that produces approach behavior to a stimuli that induces a positive affective (PA) state, commonly known as reward, plays an important role in modulating behavior. There is an extensive literature in which the rewarding effects of drugs have been investigated. Less research has been devoted to the study of naturally occurring behaviors that produce a PA or reward state. Hormones modulate different behaviors, including sex. However, little attention has been devoted to study the possible role of hormones in reward states. One of the methods most frequently used to study reward or PA states is the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Hopefully this review will encourage researchers to directly address the effects of hormones on reward, research that is much needed.