The Neurobiology of Sexual Behaviour
Good info on how neurosteroids and hormones influence sexual behaviour in animals and humans. Discusses GABAA, Testosterone, Progesterone etc…
PDF: frigor.hit.bg/lib/Neurobiology%2 … aviour.pdf
ABSTRACT:
Recent advances in the neurobiology of sexual behavior have helped to refine our understanding of the neuroanatomical, neuroendocrine and neurochemical systems that modulate responses to sexual stimulation.
Both appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors have been studied in several laboratory species and in humans using traditional and novel behavioral paradigms.
New knowledge has emerged concerning the role of hypothalamic, limbic and brainstem structures, neuropeptides, brain monoamines and nitric oxide in the control of partner preference, sexual desire, erection, copulation, ejaculation, orgasm and sexual satiety.
Brain imaging of visually evoked sexual arousal in humans has also been examined.
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Selected bits:
Interestingly, administration of testosterone to castrated male rats increases the number of NO synthase-labelled neurons in the mPOA, indicating an increase in NO synthesis.
NO is capable of stimulating dopamine (DA) release in the mPOA, which in turn stimulates penile erection. This mechanism may constitute one way in which androgens stimulate sexual arousal.
IN HUMANS:
The first study of neuroanatomical activation in human brains following visually evoked sexual arousal has been published. Positron emission tomography was used to identify activation in human males following exposure to sexually explicit, humorous or emotionally neutral film clips.
Sexual arousal was associated with bilateral activation of the inferior temporal cortex, the right insular and inferior frontal cortex and the left anterior cingulate cortex. The latter two regions are considered paralimbic, and play a role in processing sensory information related to motivation and autonomic functions. The degree of activation in these regions also correlated positively with plasma testosterone concentrations.