Hypothalamus and sexuality. Illustration of the hypothalamus in a human brain with male and female symbols superimposed. The hypothalamus plays a key role in a large number of nervous and hormonal processes, and contains control centres affecting hunger, thirst, mood, aggression and sexual function. The anterior hypothalamus (here coloured red) is divided into four interstitial nuclei. Scientific studies suggest that the third interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus shows significant differences in volume between heterosexual men, homosexual men and women.