Sensation Seeking, Sexual Curiosity and Testosterone in Inmates

Aluja, Antón; Garcı́a, Luis F.

doi:10.1159/000082852

Cited by 36 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These results are in line with previous research showing an association between reward sensitivity and stronger sexual arousability and excitability [12][13][14][15][16][17]. On the basis of these results, we may speculate that sexual arousal is at least partly mediated by BAS structures, and individual differences in reward sensitivity may modulate sexual arousal.…”

Section: Correlational Effects Between Personality Measure and Brain supporting

confidence: 92%

“…Behavioral data have shown that stronger reward sensitivity predisposes a person to be engaged in more sexual experiences, be more curious about sexual topics in the media, and be more sexually excitable [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Sexual behavior is one of the most important goal-directed behaviors essential for the survival of the animal species and is thought to engage brain mechanisms supporting reward processing [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reward sensitivity is associated with brain activity during erotic stimulus processing

Costumero

Barrós‐Loscertales

Bustamante

et al. 2014

Personality and Individual Differences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The behavioral approach system (BAS) from Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory is a neurobehavioral system involved in the processing of rewarding stimuli that has been related to dopaminergic brain areas. Gray's theory hypothesizes that the functioning of reward brain areas is modulated by BAS-related traits. To test this hypothesis, we performed an fMRI study where participants viewed erotic and neutral pictures, and cues that predicted their appearance. Forty-five heterosexual men completed the Sensitivity to Reward scale (from the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire) to measure BAS-related traits. Results showed that Sensitivity to Reward scores correlated positively with brain activity during reactivity to erotic pictures in the left orbitofrontal cortex, left insula, and right ventral striatum. These results demonstrated a relationship between the BAS and reward sensitivity during the processing of erotic stimuli, filling the gap of previous reports that identified the dopaminergic system as a neural substrate for the BAS during the processing of other rewarding stimuli such as money and food.

show abstract

Section: Correlational Effects Between Personality Measure and Brain supporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reward sensitivity is associated with brain activity during erotic stimulus processing

Costumero

Barrós‐Loscertales

Bustamante

et al. 2014

Personality and Individual Differences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, studies have found conflicting results on how these behaviors vary with circulating steroid levels. For example, measures of sensation seeking have been found to be negatively associated with estradiol levels in women (Balada et al, 1993), positively correlated with testosterone in men (Aluja & Torrubia, 2004;Aluja & Garcia, 2005), or found not to vary with testosterone in either sex (Rosenblitt et al, 2001). Thus, influence of steroids, through either organizational or activational mechanisms, on alcohol use, personality measures, or sensation seeking remains to be fully elucidated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An association of early puberty with disordered eating and anxiety in a population of undergraduate women and men

Zehr

Culbert

Sisk

et al. 2007

Hormones and Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Eating and anxiety disorders are more prevalent in females, increase during adolescence, and are associated with early pubertal development. This study examined whether timing of puberty onset is associated with disordered eating and anxiety in a large sample of post-pubertal male and female undergraduate students. Self-report questionnaires assessed timing of puberty, disordered eating, anxiety, alcohol use, personality, and sensation seeking. Females scored significantly higher on measures of disordered eating (binge eating, dietary restraint, eating concerns, and weight and shape concerns) and anxiety (state and trait anxiety) than did males. In addition, early maturing women and men scored significantly higher on measures of disordered eating and anxiety than on-time or late maturing women and men. Measures of alcohol use, sensation seeking, and personality characteristics differed in males and females but did not vary with pubertal timing. Findings suggest that early puberty is associated with disordered eating and anxiety, and this association may be due to an organizational effect of pubertal hormones. Despite important differences in body fat composition, both males and females experiencing early puberty had an increased incidence of disordered eating. The fact that early puberty was associated with increased eating and anxiety symptoms in both sexes suggests that puberty may influence these symptoms through both biological and psychosocial mechanisms.

show abstract

“…In general, researchers agree about the existence of moderate relations between testosterone and competitive behaviour, including aggressiveness [2]. Testosterone has also been related to violent behaviour [3], impulsiveness [4], extraversion [5], venturesomeness [6], dominance and social disinhibition [7], and sensation seeking in normal and criminal subjects [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%