Damage to the preoptic area of hypothalamus?

Impaired Thermoregulation

- Lesions disrupt an animal's ability to respond to ambient temperature changes to maintain their body temperature (poikilothermic).

Impaired reproductive behaviors in males and females

- Reduced sexual behaviors (i.e., mounting, intromission).

- Disruption of parental care in males and failure to nurse or deliver pups on time in females.

Reduced or eliminated aggression, especially offensive aggression

- Defensive aggression may still be intact.

Hyperphagia and Obesity

- Due to overeating; also see damage to VMH.

Loss of circadian sleeping - waking cycle

- Animal displays continuous sleeping or irregular sleep-wake periods.