A new study has found a group of neurons that controls sexual behaviour in mice, indicating that the same pattern is followed in humans for selecting mates.

The brain cells found in the prefrontal cortex responds to the hormone oxyctin and may play a role in other oxycotin-related social behaviours including intimacy, love and mother-child-bonding.

"The findings suggest that social interactions that stimulate oxytocin production will recruit this newly identified brain circuit to help coordinate the complex behavioural responses elicited by changing social situations in all mammals", said senior study author Nathaniel Heintz from the Rockefeller University.

Lead study author Miho Nakajima from Rockefeller University found a population of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex. The study researchers carried out an experiment in which they disturbed the activity of these neurons.

After doing so, female mice stopped having interest in male mice during estrus, the sexually receptive phase of their cycle. In fact, they spent the same amount of time with a plastic Lego block. On the other hand, these females again develop a normal level of social interest in other females and male mice when they were not in estrus.

Heintz was of the view that the results were quite amazing, as a small population of cells led to a particular effect. Heintz further explained that the internal hormone is regulated in different contexts including it help modulates social and sexual behaviour in female mice.

The hormone acts in different important places in the brain. Heintz said that understanding the way cells transmit signals to other neurons in mice is important, as it might help them understand as why oxycotin has these effects in humans also.

The study published in the journal Cell, also unveiled that female cells were more responsive to the hormone than the same number of cells in male mice.