Neuroanatomy and function of human sexual behavior: A neglected or unknown issue?

Abstract

IntroductionSexual desire, arousal, and orgasm are mediated by complex, yet still not fully understood, interactions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems operating at the central and peripheral levels. Disruption of endocrine, neural, or vascular response, caused by aging, medical illness, neurological diseases, surgery, or drugs, can lead to sexual dysfunctions, thus significantly affecting patients' quality of life.PurposeThis narrative review aims at characterizing the involvement of the central nervous system in human sexual behavior.MethodsA literature search was conducted using PubMed in its entirety up to June 2018, analyzing the studies dealing with the neurobiological and neurophysiological basis of human sexuality.ResultsSexual behavior is regulated by both subcortical structures, such as the hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord, and several cortical brain areas acting as an orchestra to finely adjust this primitive, complex, and versatile behavior. At the central level, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems appear to play a significant role in various factors of sexual response, although adrenergic, cholinergic, and other neuropeptide transmitter systems may contribute as well.ConclusionsProviding healthcare professionals with information concerning sexual behavior may overcome useless and sometimes dangerous barriers and improve patient management, since sexual well‐being is considered one of the most important aspects of one's quality of life.

Proximate and Ultimate Perspectives on Romantic Love

“…In addition to activity in these four systems, romantic love is associated with activity in higher-order cortical brain areas that are involved in attention, memory, mental associations, and selfrepresentation (Cacioppo et al, 2012b). Mate choice (a function of romantic love detailed below) has been specifically associated with the mesolimbic pathway and hypothalamus (Calabrò et al, 2019). The mesolimbic pathway, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, septal region, prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and insula have been specifically associated with human sexual behavior (Calabrò et al, 2019), which has implications for the sex function of romantic love (detailed below).…”

A state-of-art review on the preservation of sexual function among various minimally invasive surgical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia: Impact on erectile and ejaculatory domains

“…Male sexual function is a highly complex neurobiological and neurophysiological interaction, and any disruption of endocrine, neural, or vascular response, caused by aging, medical illness, neurological diseases, surgery, or drugs, can lead to various male sexual dysfunctions [ 100 ]. Given the strong association among the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms between BPH and ED, and that ED and ejaculatory/orgasm function is closely interlinked, it is likely that physical, psychological, and emotion changes relating to BPH therapy will invariably affect male sexual function.…”

Social Company by a Receptive Mating Partner Facilitates Fear Extinction

“…It is not clear how sexual behavior modulates neuronal function in the BLA and thus fear extinction. It is well known that sexual behavior, a deeply rooted physiological condition conserved throughout the species, is regulated by the nervous, endocrine, and genital systems whose interplay ensures its proper occurrence (Calabro et al, 2019). In the central nervous system, both cortical and subcortical structures, including the hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord, are involved in finely adjusting this primitive and complex behavior.…”