Advancing insights into the neuroendocrine basis of socio-sexual interactions in mammals

Socio-sexual behaviors, a key aspect of mammalian biology, are governed by evolutionarily conserved neuronal circuits that control partner preference, sexual attraction, and attachment. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in understanding neuroendocrine pathways involved in various levels of socio-sexual interactions, from mating preferences to forming long-term sexual partnerships. We first briefly examine how prenatal hormone exposure shapes brain structures that later influence partner choices, with a particular focus on mechanisms driven by sex steroid hormones in rodent models. We also highlight some of the latest evidence showing how multimodal sensory cues activate neural circuits and neuroendocrine responses to initiate sexual behaviors. Finally, we examine how molecularly defined neuronal populations differently impact sexual performance and socio-sexual attachment in a sex-dependent manner. Some of the evidence presented here might have been overlooked and warrants greater attention to improve guidance and discuss future directions for our field.