Jacques Balthazart

Research by Jacques Balthazart and his group addresses various topics in behavioral neuroendocrinology but focuses mostly on the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior and on the role of brain aromatase (estrogen synthase) in the activation of male sexual behavior. Several of these topics were covered in more detail in the scientific magazine of the University of Liège called Reflexion. This web site namely contains a detailed description in French and in English of his research concerning :

• The rapid changes in brain aromatase activity and the rapid effects of estrogens on sexual behavior;[10]
• The important steroid-dependent brain plasticity observed in song birds,[11]
• The role of olfaction in the control of avian reproduction.[12]

His publications can also be found in the repository of the University of Liège called ORBI.[13]

He published in 2010 a book in French entitled Biologie de l'homosexualité. On nait homosexuel, on ne choisit pas de l'être[14] summarizing the current knowledge on the biological mechanisms that control sexual orientation in animals and humans. This book has been often discussed and reviewed as scientific attempt to reduce the gap between the American and English approach in neurobiology on the subject of homosexuality, and the south-European vision which is more based on psychology and psycho-analysis. Radio channels like France Culture have organized debates over this change or perspective[15] Newspapers like Le Monde,[16] the Nouvel Observateur[17] have extensively commented his works, and a 50 minutes TV documentary, produced by Mona Lisa Corp, titled Homo ou hétéro, est-ce un choix ?,[18] by Thierry Berrod, has been aired on French national channel France 3 that has given a large audience to his theories,[19] after being featured in Belgium on national TV RTBF in November 2014.[20] Spain[21] and Italy[22] have reacted as well, following the English translation by Oxford University Press. A shorter presentation of the scientific data including an overview on sex differences is also available in English as a paper or ebook (cf."Brain development and Sexual orientation", see full references in the list below). A summary of these facts is also presented in the Reflexions Web site of the University of Liege. This book also supports the scientific argument developed in Christian Combaz' historical and sociological essay Les âmes douces[23] in which Jacques Balthazart is often quoted as a scientific counsellor.

• Aspects of Avian Endocrinology: Practical and Theoretical Implications, with C.G. Scanes, M.A. Ottinger, A.D Kenny, J. Cronshaw & I. Chester-Jones, eds ; Grad. Studies, Texas Tech, Univ. 1982, vol 26, p. 411.
• Hormones and Behavior in Higher Vertebrates, with E. Prove & R. Gilles, eds ; Springer Verlag, Berlin 1983, p. 489.
• Neurobiology, Current Comparative Approaches, with R. Gilles, eds ; Proceedings in Life Sciences, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1985, p. 415.
• Molecular and Cellular Basis of Social Behavior in Vertebrates, Advances in Comparative and Environmental Physiology, vol 3, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1989, p. 356.
• Hormones, Brain and Behavior in Vertebrates, 1, Sexual differentiation, neuroanatomical aspects, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, Comp. Physiol, Karger, vol 8, Basel, 1990 p. 226.
• Hormones, Brain and Behavior in Vertebrates, 2, Behavioral activation in males and females-Social interactions and reproductive endocrinology, Comp. Physiol., Karger, vol 9., Basel, 1990, p. 223.
• Hormones, Brain, and Behaviour, proceedings of the International Conference held in Tours, France, 24-27 aout, 1993, with J.P. Signoret et C. Fabre-Nys, eds, Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol 19 (5/7), p. 403-721.
• Proceedings of the Vth International conference on Hormones, Brain and Behavior, Turin, Italy, 1997, with G.C. Panzica, Brain Research Bulletin vol 44 (4) 1994, p. 319-558.
• Brain aromatase, estrogens and behavior, with G. F. Ball, Oxford University Press, New York USA, 2012, p. 530.

• Biologie de l'homosexualité. On nait homosexuel, on ne choisit pas de l'être, Mardaga, Wavre B, 2010, p. 299. ISBN 978-2804700379
• The biology of homosexuality, Oxford University Press, New York NY USA, 2011, p. 208. ISBN 978-0199838820
• Brain development and sexual orientation. Colloquium Series in the Developing Brain, Morgan and Claypool Life Sciences, 2012, p. 123. ISBN 978-1615044580