Sex has been found to be a key factor in health and a long life for fruit flies, according to a new study by the University of Michigan.
The research found that male fruit flies that detected sexual pheromones of a female fruit fly, but were unable to mate, experienced more stress and had shorter lives. Mating, on the other hand, had the inverse effect on health and length of life.
Scientists say the findings give a better understanding of how sensory perception and physical states are integrated into the brain. The results show how expecting sex without a reward was harmful to the lives of the fruit flies. They also provide a basis for understanding how health is influenced by the brain’s perception of rewards.
Read more at University of Michigan