Cognitive and hormonal factors affecting coital frequency

Spitz, C.; Gold, Alice Ross; Adams, David B.

doi:10.1007/bf01541625

Cited by 39 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…This selection criterion was chosen on the basis of the eventuality that the sudden surges in LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) known to occur at mid menstrual cycle might influence brain activation patterns. Given that female mammals of various species become sexually more responsive at mid menstrual cycle [Harvey, 1987;Spitz et al, 1975], one could argue that such a selection procedure resulted in a bias in terms of sexual arousability that might explain, at least partially, the gender differences found here. Evidence for an association between modulation of sexual receptivity or arousability and phases of the menstrual cycle in human females, however, appears inconsistent and even contradictory [Meuwissen and Over, 1992].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Areas of brain activation in males and females during viewing of erotic film excerpts

Karama

Lecours

Leroux

et al. 2002

Human Brain Mapping

466

131

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Various lines of evidence indicate that men generally experience greater sexual arousal (SA) to erotic stimuli than women. Yet, little is known regarding the neurobiological processes underlying such a gender difference. To investigate this issue, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare the neural correlates of SA in 20 male and 20 female subjects. Brain activity was measured while male and female subjects were viewing erotic film excerpts. Results showed that the level of perceived SA was significantly higher in male than in female subjects. When compared to viewing emotionally neutral film excerpts, viewing erotic film excerpts was associated, for both genders, with bilateral blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal increases in the anterior cingulate, medial prefrontal, orbitofrontal, insular, and occipitotemporal cortices, as well as in the amygdala and the ventral striatum. Only for the group of male subjects was there evidence of a significant activation of the thalamus and hypothalamus, a sexually dimorphic area of the brain known to play a pivotal role in physiological arousal and sexual behavior. When directly compared between genders, hypothalamic activation was found to be significantly greater in male subjects. Furthermore, for male subjects only, the magnitude of hypothalamic activation was positively correlated with reported levels of SA. These findings reveal the existence of similarities and dissimilarities in the way the brain of both genders responds to erotic stimuli. They further suggest that the greater SA generally experienced by men, when viewing erotica, may be related to the functional gender difference found here with respect to the hypothalamus.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Areas of brain activation in males and females during viewing of erotic film excerpts

Karama

Lecours

Leroux

et al. 2002

Human Brain Mapping

466

131

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…C, C′: Data plotted in three-day intervals from LH surge. D, D′: Data categorized by the Spitz et al [187] procedure. E, E′: Data categorized by a modified Spitz et al [187] procedure.…”

Section: Figures and Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences and reproductive hormone influences on human odor perception

Doty

Cameron

2009

Physiology & Behavior

397

292

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The question of whether men and women differ in their ability to smell has been the topic of scientific investigation for over a hundred years. Although conflicting findings abound, most studies suggest that, for at least some odorants, women outperform men on tests of odor detection, identification, discrimination, and memory. Most functional imaging and electrophysiological studies similarly imply that, when sex differences are present, they favor women. In this review we examine what is known about sex-related alterations in human smell function, including influences of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement therapy on a range of olfactory measures. We conclude that the relationship between reproductive hormones and human olfactory function is complex and that simple associations between circulating levels of gonadal hormones and measures of olfactory function are rarely present.

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“…In our first study we organized the data by relating them to reverse menstrual cycle days (Udry & Morris, 1968), but on the basis of papers by others we used standardized cycle days in our second study (Udry & Morris, 1970). In both studies we found a mid-cycle peak and a luteal trough in sexual activity, a pattern which is altered by the administration of contraceptive pills (Udry, Morris & Waller, 1973 (Spitz, Gold & Adams, 1975 fig. 1(a) are retained, but it is clear that the women in Text- fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%