The role of classical conditioning in the copulatory preferences of male Lo
ng-Evans rats (Rattus norvegicus) was examined by pairing a neutral olfacto
ry stimulus (almond odor) with female reproductive status. During training
trials, the males were given access to scented or unscented females that we
re either sexually receptive or unreceptive. Subsequently, copulatory prefe
rences were tested in males given simultaneous access to 2 receptive female
s, 1 scented and 1 not. Males trained with scented-receptive females displa
yed an ejaculatory preference for the scented female. Males trained with sc
ented-unreceptive females or with unscented-receptive females displayed an
ejaculatory preference for the unscented female. Males displayed no prefere
nce when scent and reproductive status were paired randomly. These results
demonstrate that classical conditioning produces an ejaculatory preference.