Neuroimaging and Sexual Behavior: Identification of Regional and Functional Differences

Cheng, Joseph; Secondary, Joseph; Burke, W. H.; Fedoroff, J. Paul; Dwyer, Ross G.

doi:10.1007/s11920-015-0593-x

Cited by 33 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…However, reduced rich club coefficient was found in both networks of pED, which suggested that disrupted global communication of brain had a key role in the pathophysiology of pED. In addition, the inefficient integration among regions in charge of emotional, cognitive, motivational, and autonomic components of the human brain (Cheng et al, 2015) might be related to the effects of abnormal psychological factors on erectile function of patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disrupted topological properties of brain networks in erectile dysfunction patients owing predominantly to psychological factors: a structural and functional neuroimaging study

et al. 2019

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Introduction Human brain was a complex network of interconnected regions. Recent neuroimaging studies had showed that the disruption of brain connectivity was associated with psychological disorders. Abnormal rich club and robustness of brain networks might have a key role in the pathophysiology of psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED). Methods Both diffusion and functional magnetic resonance imaging were performed in pED patients and healthy controls (HC). Measures of rich club organization and robustness under targeted attack were explored. Results Both pED and HC showed structural and functional rich club organization. However, reduced rich club coefficient was found in pED and different regions in the rich club of structural brain network were less than that of functional brain network. Moreover, decreased connectivity density and strength were only found in feeder connections of functional brain network in pED. In addition, pED showed remarkably reduced resilient to targeted attack and the stability of the functional brain network organization showed more vulnerable to targeted attack in pED. Conclusion Together, our results provided evidence that pED was characterized by a selective disruption of rich club organization and reduced robustness to attack. The abnormal hub regions and connections of functional brain network, less stable organization of structural brain network, and the abnormal psychological factors might lead to the development of erectile dysfunction in pED.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disrupted topological properties of brain networks in erectile dysfunction patients owing predominantly to psychological factors: a structural and functional neuroimaging study

et al. 2019

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“…Increased activation in the frontal brain areas plays an important role in the sustained visual attention to motivationally relevant stimuli, which lead to increased response inhibition of sexual arousal and erection responses (Sennwald et al, 2016). Activation is reported in the frontal cortex in response to sexually arousing film clips (Cheng et al, 2015). The pre-frontal cortex is also implicated in ejaculation control (Yang et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pre-frontal cortex is also implicated in ejaculation control (Yang et al, 2018). A remarkable decrease of function throughout the pre-frontal cortex is found during ejaculation (Cheng et al, 2015). In addition, the disruption of frontal brain areas may lead to an state of hypersexuality by the reduced inhibitory effect on sexual behavior (K€ uhn & Gallinat, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the increased path length was associated with the decreased level of amplitudes in the sympathetic activity. Activation of the medial pre-frontal cortex is found in healthy men under visual sexual stimuli (Cheng et al, 2015). Deactivation of the pre-frontal cortex is reported to be involved in the normal ejaculation behavior (Stol eru et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reduced segregation and integration of structural brain network associated with sympathetic and dorsal penile nerve activity in anejaculation patients: a graph‐based connectome study

et al. 2019

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Introduction Recent neuroimaging studies have indicated that some brain areas are involved in the sexual behavior process. Pre‐mature ejaculation patients exhibit altered brain activation and abnormal cortical structures. However, there has been no research evaluating the topological organization of structural brain network in anejaculation (AE). Methods We employed diffusion tensor imaging data and graph theory to examine the whole‐brain structural networks among 16 AE patients and 23 healthy controls. In addition, the results of sexual function assessment were also obtained from each patient for symptom assessment. Moreover, the relationships between these clinical features and the altered topological characteristics of AE patients were also explored. Results Decreased clustering coefficient was found in the right amygdala, inferior temporal gyrus, and left pallidum of AE. AE also showed increased path length in the right post‐central gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, putamen, pallidum and left heschl gyrus, temporal pole (superior temporal gyrus); however, these altered brain regions showed no significant differences after false discovery rate correction. Moreover, the path length between subcortical and frontal regions was increased in AE. In addition, negative correlations were found between the altered nodal parameters and the amplitudes of somatosensory evoked potentials of dorsal nerve, sympathetic skin response located in the penis. Conclusion Together, our results suggest that AE was associated with disruptions in the topological organization of structural brain networks. The decreased clustering coefficient in temporal and subcortical regions and the increased path length between subcortical and frontal regions may contribute to AE. These findings provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of AE.

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“…The amygdala is essential for emotional processes (Madan et al, 2017 ); meanwhile, it is extensively interconnected with the prefrontal cortex (Gold et al, 2015 ), which is responsible for the cognitive aspects of emotional responses. In addition, prior model relates some brain regions to distinct components of SA, including cognitive, motivational, autonomic, and emotional components (Redouté et al, 2000 ; Ferretti et al, 2005 ; Cheng et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impaired Prefrontal-Amygdala Pathway, Self-Reported Emotion, and Erection in Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction Patients With Normal Nocturnal Erection

Chen

Gao

et al. 2018

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Background: Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that the prefrontal cortex and amygdala play an important role in sexual arousal (SA). However, little is known about the interactions between the prefrontal and cortex amygdala, which mediate the cognitive regulation of emotion and SA.Objective: We seek to determine whether nocturnal erection of psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED) patients are normal and whether there are changes of topological organization in the prefrontal-amygdala pathway of brain network in pED. In addition, whether there are correlations between network property changes and self-reported emotion and erection.Design, setting, and participants: We used the RigiScan device to evaluate erectile function of patients and employed diffusion MRI and graph theory to construct brain networks of 21 pED patients and 24 healthy controls.Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: We considered four nodal metrics and their asymmetry scores, and nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) parameters, to evaluate the topological properties of brain networks of pED and their relationships with the impaired self-reported emotion and erection.Results and limitations: All the pED patients showed normal nocturnal penile erection, however impaired self-reported erection and negative emotion. In addition, patients showed lower connectivity degree and strength in the left prefrontal-amygdala pathway. We also found that pED exhibited lower leftward asymmetry in the inferior frontal gyrus. Furthermore, patients showed more hub regions and fewer pivotal connections. Moreover, the degree of the left amygdala of pED showed significantly negative correlation with the self-reported erection and positive correlation with the self-reported negative emotion.Conclusions: Together, these results suggest normal nocturnal erection in pED. However, abnormalities of brain network organization in pED, particularly in the left prefrontal-amygdala pathway, are associated with the impaired self-reported erection and negative emotion.

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Neuroimaging and Sexual Behavior: Identification of Regional and Functional Differences

Cited by 33 publications

References 62 publications

Disrupted topological properties of brain networks in erectile dysfunction patients owing predominantly to psychological factors: a structural and functional neuroimaging study

Disrupted topological properties of brain networks in erectile dysfunction patients owing predominantly to psychological factors: a structural and functional neuroimaging study

Reduced segregation and integration of structural brain network associated with sympathetic and dorsal penile nerve activity in anejaculation patients: a graph‐based connectome study

Impaired Prefrontal-Amygdala Pathway, Self-Reported Emotion, and Erection in Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction Patients With Normal Nocturnal Erection

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