Figure 7.

In mating tests, optogenetic stimulation of AOB mitral cells significantly augmented the occurrence of penile intromission in male mice when the laser was switched on following nasal contact the stimulus estrous female or a direct mount of the female (triggered). * denotes a significant difference in the percentage of mounts with intromission during the laser-ON versus laser-OFF portions of the triggered test (paired t test, p = 0.017). By contrast, there was no difference (n.s.) in males’ intromission success during laser-ON compared with laser-OFF periods when optogenetic AOB stimulation was applied at arbitrary (2.5 min) intervals (timed). Results are also shown from a single baseline test during which the male subjects were allowed to mate with an estrous female in the absence of any optogenetic AOB stimulation.