Brain Activation during Human Male Ejaculation

Holstege, Gert; Georgiadis, Janniko R.; Paans, Anne M. J.; Meiners, Linda C.; Graaf, Ferdinand Hendrik Cornelis Eduard van der; Reinders, Antje A. T. S.

doi:10.1523/jneurosci.23-27-09185.2003

Cited by 336 publications

(200 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Sexual stimuli and behaviour activate the mesolimbic DA reward system similarly to other rewarding/pleasant stimuli or drugs of abuse (Georgiadis and Kringelbach, 2012;Holstege et al, 2003). Our study findings are consistent with the role for DA in sexual arousal because methylphenidate increased sexual arousal and MDMA did not.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Effects of methylphenidate and MDMA on appraisal of erotic stimuli and intimate relationships

Schmid

Hysek

Preller

et al. 2015

European Neuropsychopharmacology

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Methylphenidate mainly enhances dopamine neurotransmission whereas 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") mainly enhances serotonin neurotransmission. However, both drugs also induce a weaker increase of cerebral noradrenaline exerting sympathomimetic properties. Dopaminergic psychostimulants are reported to increase sexual drive, while serotonergic drugs typically impair sexual arousal and functions. Additionally, serotonin has also been shown to modulate cognitive perception of romantic relationships. Whether methylphenidate or MDMA alter sexual arousal or cognitive appraisal of intimate relationships is not known. Thus, we evaluated effects of methylphenidate (40mg) and MDMA (75mg) on subjective sexual arousal by viewing erotic pictures and on perception of romantic relationships of unknown couples in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 30 healthy adults. Methylphenidate, but not MDMA, increased ratings of sexual arousal for explicit sexual stimuli. The participants also sought to increase the presentation time of implicit sexual stimuli by button press after methylphenidate treatment compared with placebo. Plasma levels of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone were not associated with sexual arousal ratings. Neither MDMA nor methylphenidate altered appraisal of romantic relationships of others. The findings indicate that pharmacological stimulation of dopaminergic but not of serotonergic neurotransmission enhances sexual drive. Whether sexual perception is altered in subjects misusing methylphenidate e.g., for cognitive enhancement or as treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is of high interest and warrants further investigation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Effects of methylphenidate and MDMA on appraisal of erotic stimuli and intimate relationships

Schmid

Hysek

Preller

et al. 2015

European Neuropsychopharmacology

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“…Here, OT was shown to exert anxiolytic effects, to inhibit autonomic fear responses (12) and to promote sedation (14). Moreover, the activation of the amygdala was reduced after intranasal OT treatment (17), and after ejaculation in men (33), further implicating similar anxiolytic mechanisms of OT actions across species. Thus, multiple brain regions relevant for OT actions might be involved in the anxiolytic effects seen after mating in male rats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Centrally released oxytocin mediates mating-induced anxiolysis in male rats

Waldherr

Neumann

2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

236

173

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Sexual activity and mating are accompanied by a high level of arousal, whereas anecdotal and experimental evidence demonstrate that sedation and calmness are common phenomena in the postcoital period in humans. These remarkable behavioral consequences of sexual activity contribute to a general feeling of well being, but underlying neurobiological mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that sexual activity and mating with a receptive female reduce the level of anxiety and increase risk-taking behavior in male rats for several hours. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to exert multiple functions in male and female reproduction, and to play a key role in the regulation of emotionality after its peripheral and central release, respectively. In the present study, we reveal that oxytocin is released within the brain, specifically within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, of male rats during mating with a receptive female. Furthermore, blockade of the activated brain oxytocin system by central administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist immediately after mating prevents the anxiolytic effect of mating, while having no effect in nonmated males. These findings provide direct evidence for an essential role of an activated brain oxytocin system mediating the anxiolytic effect of mating in males.black-white box ͉ elevated plus maze ͉ paraventricular nucleus ͉ risk-taking behavior ͉ anxiety T he neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is a well acknowledged neuromodulator/neurotransmitter of the brain regulating emotionality, stress coping, and prosocial behaviors (1-3). In females, high activity of the brain OT system has been linked to the fine-tuned regulation of parturition and milk letdown (4), to the performance of maternal behaviors (3), and to the low stress response characteristic for the peripartum period (5, 6). Importantly, behavioral and physiological actions of intracerebral OT are not limited to females, because OT synthesis, local OT release, and OT receptor binding have also been demonstrated in the male brain (2, 7, 8). A major site of both OT synthesis and release within the brain is the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) (2), a region integrating behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses (9). In male rats and mice, OT is an important regulator of sexual function (10), of anxiety (11), and of stress-coping circuitries (12)(13)(14). Moreover, in humans, intranasal OT was recently described to promote trust (15), and to reduce the level of anxiety (16), possibly at the level of the amygdala (17). With respect to sexual activity, preclinical (18) and human (19) research has shown elevated OT secretion into the blood during mating behavior and orgasm, respectively. Additionally, increased OT levels have been described in the cerebrospinal fluid after mating in rats (20), which is indicative of stimulation of the OT system (21).In combination, these findings lead us to hypothesize that mating results in reduced anxiety-related behavior, possibly mediated by an elevation in local...

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“…Positive and negative reinforcement (Wightman & Robinson, 2002), also through natural reinforcement as food or sex (Kelley & Berridge, 2002;Wise, 2002), leads to an increase of dopamine release. Neuroimaging studies point out the involvement of neural structures related to the reward in sexual arousal (Arnow et al, 2002;Paul et al, 2008;Redouté et al, 2000) and orgasm (Holstege et al, 2003) leading to the conclusion that sexual arousal is highly reinforcing (Georgiadis & Kringelbach, 2012). Moreover, there is evidence showing conditioned sexual arousal in humans (Hoffmann, Janssen & Turner, 2004;Klucken et al, 2009;Lalumiere & Quinsey, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cybersex addiction: Experienced sexual arousal when watching pornography and not real-life sexual contacts makes the difference

Laier¹,

Pawlikowski²,

Pekal³

et al. 2013

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

178

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Background and aims: Cybersex addiction is discussed controversially, while empirical evidence is widely missing. With respect to its mechanisms of development and maintenance Brand et al. (2011) assume that reinforcement due to cybersex should lead to the development of cue-reactivity and craving explaining recurrent cybersex use in the face of growing but neglected negative consequences. To support this hypothesis, two experimental studies were conducted. Methods: In a cue-reactivity paradigm 100 pornographic cues were presented to participants and indicators of sexual arousal and craving were assessed. The first study aimed at identifying predictors of cybersex addiction in a freely recruited sample of 171 heterosexual males. The aim of the second study was to verify the findings of the first study by comparing healthy (n = 25) and problematic (n = 25) cybersex users. Results: The results show that indicators of sexual arousal and craving to Internet pornographic cues predicted tendencies towards cybersex addiction in the first study. Moreover, it was shown that problematic cybersex users report greater sexual arousal and craving reactions resulting from pornographic cue presentation. In both studies, the number and subjective quality of real-life sexual contacts were not associated to cybersex addiction. Discussion: The results support the gratification hypothesis, which assumes reinforcement, learning mechanisms, and craving to be relevant processes in the development and maintenance of cybersex addiction. Poor or unsatisfying sexual real-life contacts cannot sufficiently explain cybersex addiction. Conclusions: Positive reinforcement in terms of gratification plays a major role in cybersex addiction.

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Brain Activation during Human Male Ejaculation

Cited by 336 publications

References 59 publications

Effects of methylphenidate and MDMA on appraisal of erotic stimuli and intimate relationships

Effects of methylphenidate and MDMA on appraisal of erotic stimuli and intimate relationships

Centrally released oxytocin mediates mating-induced anxiolysis in male rats

Cybersex addiction: Experienced sexual arousal when watching pornography and not real-life sexual contacts makes the difference

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