Neurobiology of Sexual Desire

Kim, Suck Won; Schenck, Carlos H.; Grant, Jon E.; Yoon, Gihyun; Dosa, Peter I.; Odlaug, Brian L.; Schreiber, Liana R.N.; Hurwitz, Thomas D.; Pfaus, James G.

doi:10.14704/nq.2013.11.2.662

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 261 publications

(273 reference statements)

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“…Apart from the stable conjoint activation in a circumscribed cluster and no significant activation differences between t1 and t2 for this region, the overall activation pattern of the hypothalamus seems to fluctuate over time. Given the structure's proposed role in sexual motivation/desire (e.g., [58]), one might speculate that these results reflect motivational short‐term influences on the processing of sexual stimuli. The only structure with a significant activation change over time in the complete group was the ACC ( sex—positive ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

At the Second Glance: Stability of Neural Responses Toward Visual Sexual Stimuli

Wehrum-Osinsky

Klucken

Kagerer

et al. 2014

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

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Introduction Studies investigating the neural responses toward sexual stimuli can provide an important basis for further understanding disorders of sexual functioning. Although our knowledge of the neural correlates of sexual stimulus processing has increased considerably in the last decade, the stability of the observed effects in studies on neural sexual responses has been rather neglected. Aims The current study aimed to test the stability of behavioral and neural responses to visual sexual stimuli in men and women over a time span of 1 to 1.5 years. To disentangle valence and arousal-related aspects of sexual stimulus processing, we employed not only sexual and neutral, but also positive and negative emotional stimuli. Methods A sample of 56 subjects (24 women) was assessed twice, with an interval of 1 to 1.5 years between assessments. During a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session, participants passively viewed sexual, neutral, positive, and negative emotional pictures. Pictures were presented in 24 blocks of five pictures each. Every block was rated immediately after its presentation with respect to valence, arousal, and sexual arousal. Main Outcome Measures Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses measured by fMRI and stimulus ratings. Results fMRI analyses revealed a distributed network involved in the processing of sexual stimuli, with large parts of this network being consistently activated at both assessment points. Nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate, occipital and parietal cortex showed the most robust results with respect to group stability. Responses of anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal, parietal and occipital cortex showed interindividual stability. Gender differences were restricted to a few regions of interest. Conclusions Our data indicate stability of neural responses toward sexual stimuli not only on the group but also on the individual level. Activation of parietal and occipital cortex might reflect a trait like character of attention related responses toward sexual stimuli.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

At the Second Glance: Stability of Neural Responses Toward Visual Sexual Stimuli

Wehrum-Osinsky

Klucken

Kagerer

et al. 2014

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

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“…Sexual desire in the brain begins with the arrival of sexually stimulating sensory signals at the medial preoptic area, which is the hub of the telodiencephalic reproductive complex ( Kim et al., 2013 ). This complex also incorporates the neural network of the mesolimbic reward center,the network most involved in addiction ( Roxo, Franceschini, Zubaran, Kleber, & Sander, 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Correlates of Problematic Internet Pornography Use Among University Students

Harper¹,

Hodgins²

2016

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

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Background and aimsThe phenomenon of Internet pornography (IP) addiction is gainingincreasing attention in the popular media and psychological research. What has not been tested empirically is how frequency and amount ofIP use, along with other individual characteristics, are related tosymptoms of IP addiction.Methods105 female and 86 male university students (mean age 21) from Calgary,Canada, were administered measures of IP use, psychosocial functioning (anxiety and depression, life and relationship satisfaction), addictivepropensities, and addictive IP use.ResultsMen reported earlier age of exposure and more frequent current IP use than women. Individuals not in relationships reported more frequent use than those in relationships. Frequency of IP use wasnot generally correlated with psychosocial functioning but was significantly positively correlated with level of IP addiction. Higher level of IP addiction was associated with poorer psychosocial functioning and problematic alcohol, cannabis, gambling and, in particular, video game use. A curvilinear association was found between frequency of IP use and level of addiction such that daily or greater IP use was associated with a sharp rise in addictive IP scores.DiscussionThe failure to find a strong significant relationship between IP use and general psychosocial functioning suggests that the overall effect of IP use is not necessarily harmful in and of itself. Addictiveuse of IP, which is associated with poorer psychosocial functioning, emerges when people begin to use IP daily.

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“…Further research indicates that the repeated exposure to these artificial sexually arousing stimuli disturbs normal sensory signal processing at the medial preoptic area, which is the hub of the telodiencephalic reproductive complex ( Kim et al, 2013 ). This atypical processing of sexually arousing stimuli also negatively affects neural networks of the mesolimbic reward center, which is usually involved in mechanisms of addiction ( Roxo et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Pornographic Experience and Its Neurobiological Correlatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pornography Consumption and Cognitive-Affective Distress

Privara,

Bob

2023

J Nerv Ment Dis

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According to recent studies, the growing consumption of Internet pornography mainly in male population becomes an increasing problem, which is closely linked to compulsive sexual behavior. Some findings also suggest that Internet pornography consumption might represent a defense mechanism against excessive stress, which enables to cope with stressful events, helps in mood regulation, and decreases depression and anxiety. Users of online pornography involved in these activities also reported that their self-exposition to pornographic material may create guilty feelings and internal conflict in themselves with respect to their own “involuntary” sexual behavior, which suggest that psychosocial stress and possibly traumatic experiences may play a significant role in Internet pornography addiction. Taken together, these findings show that stressful experiences, anxiety, and depression are strongly related to pornography consumption. In addition, conflicting emotional experiences as well as identity problems significantly increase vulnerability to addictive sexual behavior and pornography consumption.

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Neurobiology of Sexual Desire

Cited by 12 publications

References 261 publications

At the Second Glance: Stability of Neural Responses Toward Visual Sexual Stimuli

At the Second Glance: Stability of Neural Responses Toward Visual Sexual Stimuli

Examining Correlates of Problematic Internet Pornography Use Among University Students

Pornography Consumption and Cognitive-Affective Distress

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