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Abstract

Brain areas activated in human male sexual behavior have not been characterized precisely. For the first time, positron emission tomography (PET) was used to identify the brain areas activated in healthy males experiencing visually evoked sexual arousal. Eight male subjects underwent six measurements of regional brain activity following the administration of [15O]H2O as they viewed three categories of film clips: sexually explicit clips, emotionally neutral control clips, and humorous control clips inducing positive but nonsexual emotions. Statistical Parametric Mapping was used to identify brain regions demonstrating an increased activity associated with the sexual response to the visual stimulus. Visually evoked sexual arousal was characterized by a threefold pattern of activation: the bilateral activation of the inferior temporal cortex, a visual association area; the activation of the right insula and right inferior frontal cortex, which are two paralimbic areas relating highly processed sensory information with motivational states; and the activation of the left anterior cingulate cortex, another paralimbic area known to control autonomic and neuroendocrine functions. Activation of some of these areas was positively correlated with plasma testosterone levels. Although this study should be considered preliminary, it identified brain regions whose activation was correlated with visually evoked sexual arousal in males.

Vicarious Viewing Time: Prolonged Response Latencies for Sexually Attractive Targets as a Function of Task- or Stimulus-Specific Processing

“…For example, erotic stimuli elicit neuronal activities in brain areas commonly associated with the human reward system (e.g., Ishai, 2007;Karama et al, 2002;Mouras et al, 2003;Ponseti et al, 2006;Redouté et al, 2000;Safron et al, 2007;Stoléru et al, 1999). Visual stimuli of sexually attractive targets may also trigger schematic processes (e.g., evaluative, comparative, or associative processes, episodic memories, fantasizing).…”

Viewing Time Effects Revisited: Prolonged Response Latencies for Sexually Attractive Targets Under Restricted Task Conditions

“…This hypothesis is corroborated by neurophysiological evidence. Watching sexually attractive stimuli elicits neuronal activities in brain areas commonly associated with the human reward system (e.g., Ishai, 2007;Karama et al, 2002;Mouras et al, 2003;Ponseti et al, 2006;Redouté et al, 2000;Safron et al, 2007;Stoléru et al, 1999). Humans are assumed to be motivated by hedonism (e.g., Epstein, 1990) in that they try to reach and maintain positive affective states.…”

Dopamine and Male Sexual Function

“…In a study of 6 patients with a history of psychogenic erectile dysfunction, it was shown that the inferior temporal regions on the right, superior prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal regions bilaterally, and the thalamus, were specifically activated upon sublingual administration of apomorphine [56]. In comparison, visually evoked sexual arousal (without drug treatment) was characterized by: bilateral activation of the inferior temporal cortex, a visual association area; activation of the right insula and right inferior frontal cortex, which are two paralimbic areas relating highly processed sensory information with motivational state, and activation of the left anterior cingulate cortex, another paralimbic area known to control autonomic and neuorendocrine functions [57]. More precise data are required to make a comparison in order to determine to which extent apomorphine activates brain structures which are kept silent in ‘drug–free’ sexual arousal.…”