AUTHOR=Cordero-Molina Sagrario , Fetter-Pruneda Ingrid , Contreras-Garduño Jorge TITLE=Neural mechanisms involved in female mate choice in invertebrates JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1291635 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2023.1291635 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=

Mate choice is a critical decision with direct implications for fitness. Although it has been recognized for over 150 years, our understanding of its underlying mechanisms is still limited. Most studies on mate choice focus on the evolutionary causes of behavior, with less attention given to the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved. This is especially true for invertebrates, where research on mate choice has largely focused on male behavior. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the neural, molecular and neurohormonal mechanisms of female choice in invertebrates, including behaviors before, during, and after copulation. We identify areas of research that have not been extensively explored in invertebrates, suggesting potential directions for future investigation. We hope that this review will stimulate further research in this area.