Mate Choice, Sex Roles and Sexual Cognition: Neuronal Prerequisites Supporting Cognitive Mate Choice

Abstract

Across taxa, mate choice is a highly selective process involving both intra- and intersexual selection processes aiming to pass on one’s genes, making mate choice a pivotal tool of sexual selection. Individuals adapt mate choice behavior dynamically in response to environmental and social changes. These changes are perceived sensorily and integrated on a neuronal level, which ultimately leads to an adequate behavioral response. Along with perception and prior to an appropriate behavioral response, the choosing sex has (1) to recognize and discriminate between the prospective mates and (2) to be able to assess and compare their performance in order to make an informed decision. To do so, cognitive processes allow for the simultaneous processing of multiple information from the (in-) animate environment as well as from a variety of both sexual and social (but non-sexual) conspecific cues. Although many behavioral aspects of cognition on one side and of mate choice displays on the other are well understood, the interplay of neuronal mechanisms governing both determinants, i.e., governing cognitive mate choice have been described only vaguely. This review aimed to throw a spotlight on neuronal prerequisites, networks and processes supporting the interaction between mate choice, sex roles and sexual cognition, hence, supporting cognitive mate choice. How does neuronal activity differ between males and females regarding social cognition? Does sex or the respective sex role within the prevailing mating system mirror at a neuronal level? How does cognitive competence affect mate choice? Conversely, how does mate choice affect the cognitive abilities of both sexes? Benefitting from studies using different neuroanatomical techniques such as neuronal activity markers, differential coexpression or candidate gene analyses, modulatory effects of neurotransmitters and hormones, or imaging techniques such as fMRI, there is ample evidence pointing to a reflection of sex and the respective sex role at the neuronal level, at least in individual brain regions. Moreover, this review aims to summarize evidence for cognitive abilities influencing mate choice and vice versa. At the same time, new questions arise centering the complex relationship between neurobiology, cognition and mate choice, which we will perhaps be able to answer with new experimental techniques.

Neural mechanisms involved in female mate choice in invertebrates

“…This bias may exist because male behaviors tend to be more conspicuous than female behaviors, resulting in a misinterpretation of females in a passive role in sexual selection. However, it is important to understand that the information conveyed by males through their behavior is interpreted within the female’s nervous system ( 14 , 15 ) ( Figure 1 ). Studying how female brains work during mate choice is crucial for fully understanding these behaviors from mechanism to evolutionary consequences.…”

Cognition and Its Shaping Effect on Sexual Conflict: Integrating Biology and Psychology

“…In this regard, it is interesting to note that many authors do refer to essentially psychological processes such as anticipation, which is an animal’s prediction based on previously acquired knowledge, as determinants of reproductive investment (see e.g., Cattelan and Pilastro, 2018 ; Dore et al, 2018 ; Fuss, 2021 ), which is directly linked to sexual conflict ( Kokko and Jennions, 2014 ). However, in the research field of sexual conflict, to our understanding, and to the best of our knowledge, a conceptual gap still exists, and we think it is limiting the way in which it is being analysed.…”