Brain activation by visual erotic stimuli in healthy middle aged males

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to identify brain centers, whose activity changes are related to erotic visual stimuli in healthy, heterosexual, middle aged males. Ten heterosexual, right-handed males with normal sexual function were entered into the present study (mean age 52 years, range 46-55). All potential subjects were screened over 1 h interview, and were encouraged to fill out questionnaires including the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory. All subjects with a history of sexual arousal disorder or erectile dysfunction were excluded. We performed functional brain magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in male volunteers when an alternatively combined erotic and nonerotic film was played for 14 min and 9 s. The major areas of activation associated with sexual arousal to visual stimuli were occipitotemporal area, anterior cingulate gyrus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, caudate nucleus. However, hypothalamus and thalamus were not activated. We suggest that the nonactivation of hypothalamus and thalamus in middle aged males may be responsible for the lesser physiological arousal in response to the erotic visual stimuli.

Effects of sertraline on brain current source of the high beta frequency band: analysis of electroencephalography during audiovisual erotic stimulation in males with premature ejaculation

“…However, physiological and behavioral differences between animals and humans make it difficult to directly apply the results to humans. Of the few Effect of SSRI on EEG of premature ejaculation patients OY Kwon et al studies in humans, most have used PET or functional magnetic resonance imaging, [17][18][19] measuring changes in cerebral blood flow or changes in oxygen concentration in blood flow to indirectly reflect neuronal activity. These methods are widely accepted, but their limitations must be considered.…”

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Epidemiology and pathophysiology of male sexual dysfunction

“…However, in a study of middle-aged men who did not have either ED or reduced sexual desire, the hypothalamus and thalamus were not activated in response to erotic stimuli, which may help account for the lesser physiological arousal in response to erotic visual stimuli. 37 Although spinal neurons controlling erection are activated by information from peripheral and supraspinal sources, some supraspinal structures that have a pro-erectile effect may not project directly onto spinal neurons involved in erection. These structures, including the paraventricular nucleus and the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus, regulate erection by coordinating responses of the body during sexual or pro-sexual activity.…”