The human sexual response cycle: brain imaging evidence linking sex to other pleasures
- PMID: 22609047
- DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.05.004
The human sexual response cycle: brain imaging evidence linking sex to other pleasures
Abstract
Sexual behavior is critical to species survival, yet comparatively little is known about the neural mechanisms in the human brain. Here we systematically review the existing human brain imaging literature on sexual behavior and show that the functional neuroanatomy of sexual behavior is comparable to that involved in processing other rewarding stimuli. Sexual behavior clearly follows the established principles and phases for wanting, liking and satiety involved in the pleasure cycle of other rewards. The studies have uncovered the brain networks involved in sexual wanting or motivation/anticipation, as well as sexual liking or arousal/consummation, while there is very little data on sexual satiety or post-orgasmic refractory period. Human sexual behavior also interacts with other pleasures, most notably social interaction and high arousal states. We discuss the changes in the underlying brain networks supporting sexual behavior in the context of the pleasure cycle, the changes to this cycle over the individual's life-time and the interactions between them. Overall, it is clear from the data that the functional neuroanatomy of sex is very similar to that of other pleasures and that it is unlikely that there is anything special about the brain mechanisms and networks underlying sex.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
The functional human neuroanatomy of food pleasure cycles.Physiol Behav. 2012 Jun 6;106(3):307-16. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.03.023. Epub 2012 Mar 28. Physiol Behav. 2012. PMID: 22487544 Review.
-
Functional neuroanatomy of human cortex cerebri in relation to wanting sex and having it.Clin Anat. 2015 Apr;28(3):314-23. doi: 10.1002/ca.22528. Epub 2015 Mar 2. Clin Anat. 2015. PMID: 25727715 Review.
-
Mixing pleasures: review of the effects of drugs on sex behavior in humans and animal models.Horm Behav. 2010 Jun;58(1):149-62. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.11.009. Epub 2009 Dec 31. Horm Behav. 2010. PMID: 20004662 Review.
-
Absorbed states play different roles in female and male sexual response: hypotheses for testing.J Sex Marital Ther. 1994 Fall;20(3):244-53. doi: 10.1080/00926239408403434. J Sex Marital Ther. 1994. PMID: 7996595
-
Central hormonal regulation and dimorphism of arousal.Int J Androl. 2005 Dec;28 Suppl 2:18-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00583.x. Int J Androl. 2005. PMID: 16236059 Review.
Cited by
-
The Complex Role Played by the Default Mode Network during Sexual Stimulation: A Cluster-Based fMRI Meta-Analysis.Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Jul 5;14(7):570. doi: 10.3390/bs14070570. Behav Sci (Basel). 2024. PMID: 39062393 Free PMC article. Review.
-
The standardization of a new Explicit Pornographic Picture Set (EPPS).Behav Res Methods. 2024 May 1. doi: 10.3758/s13428-024-02418-z. Online ahead of print. Behav Res Methods. 2024. PMID: 38693442
-
Sexual Pleasure Matters - and How to Define and Assess It Too. A Conceptual Framework of Sexual Pleasure and the Sexual Response.Int J Sex Health. 2023 Jun 12;35(3):313-340. doi: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2212663. eCollection 2023. Int J Sex Health. 2023. PMID: 38595929 Free PMC article.
-
Altered Sexual Response-Related Functional Connectivity and Morphometric Changes Influenced by Sex Hormones across Menopausal Status.J Clin Med. 2024 Jan 10;13(2):387. doi: 10.3390/jcm13020387. J Clin Med. 2024. PMID: 38256520 Free PMC article.
-
Does activation of oxytocinergic reward circuits postpone the decline of the aging brain?Front Psychol. 2023 Dec 29;14:1250745. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1250745. eCollection 2023. Front Psychol. 2023. PMID: 38222845 Free PMC article. Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
