Sexual orientation, neuropsychiatric disorders and the neurotransmitters involved. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Haimei; Fernández-Guasti, Alonso; Xu, Yi; Swaab, Dick
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 131(2021)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 488
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Sexual orientation -- Neuropsychiatric disorders -- Neurotransmitters -- Sexual fluidity -- Serotonin -- Dopamine -- Oxytocin -- GABA; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Sex hormones and neurotransmitters interact during brain development. Animals with same-sex preference have increased anxiety and depression symptoms. Non-heterosexual individuals have higher prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurotransmitters changes during development may contribute to this relationship. This has clinical implications for psychiatric medication during pregnancy. Abstract: According to the neuro-hormonal theory, sexual orientation in humans develops in the womb under the influence of sex hormones. In this article, we review the evidence from basic research on the possible role of neurotransmitters on influencing sexual orientation. We show that pharmacological or genetically induced changes in neurotransmitter systems during development might, by hormone-mediated structural and functional brain changes, result in alterations in sexual preference in animal models. We propose that in humans this mechanism may contribute to the relationship between non-heterosexual orientation and increased prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders. Data to support this idea are reviewed. We suggest that altered neurotransmitter levels during development will increase the chance for both non-heterosexual differentiation of the brain and neuropsychiatric disorders. This possibility may have clinical implications, because medication given to a pregnant woman may, in this way, alter brain development of the fetus in a permanent way.