ERP responses to sexual cues among young women attracted to men

Abstract

Previous event‐related potential (ERP) studies reported larger N170, P3, and late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes to sexual than nonsexual stimuli. These ERPs may not be specifically sensitive to processing sexual cues, however, because the sexual stimuli included information beyond sexual cues (e.g., faces, bodies, social interaction) to a greater extent than comparison stimuli. We investigated ERPs to stimuli that focused on sexual and nonsexual body regions, in different states of readiness for activity, to elucidate neural responses involved in processing sexual cues. Forty cisgender, primarily white, undergraduate women who were attracted to men (Mage = 18.6, SD = 0.9) viewed images that varied by male body part (penis, arm) and activity state (rest, poised for activity). Participants viewed 40 images per category (flaccid penises, erect penises, outstretched arms, bent arms). Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded using a 128‐channel net, time‐locked to the onset of each image. Using a whole‐head cluster‐mass approach, we found that the P3 was sensitive to sexual readiness—P3 amplitudes were larger to erect than flaccid penises, but not to bent than outstretched arms. The N170 and LPP components did not show evidence of similarly specific responses to sexual readiness, revealing potential dissociation of different neural processes commonly elicited in response to more complex sexual stimuli. An additional novel finding was that an anterior N270‐400 was sensitive to sexual readiness. Findings clarify the brain's rapid responses to sexual stimuli, setting the stage for future research aimed at better understanding the neurocognitive processes that contribute to the coordination of sexual arousal.

Interplay between sexual excitation and inhibition: impact on sexual function and neural correlates of erotic stimulus processing in women

“…Furthermore, interactive effects of SE/SI might be more pronounced when used stimuli depict aspects of sexual interactions directly related to SI (e.g., pain, judgement, risk of pregnancy/STDs), or SE (e.g., unusual settings, dominance). Hence, using a greater variety of sexuality-related stimulus material (positive, negative, high vs. low in context details), or more explicit stimuli depicting different stages of sexual readiness ( Huberman et al, 2023 ), would be insightful. In this regard, implicit measures of stimulus processing could be paired with explicit stimulus evaluations (i.e., valence and arousal ratings).…”

“…To enhance our understanding of the attentional and motivational dynamics underlying SE/SI, the use of ERPs constitutes a particularly well-suited and advantageous technique. The high temporal resolution of ERP components and their well-described associations with specific cognitive and emotional processes ( Hajcak et al, 2010 ), including those associated with erotic stimulus processing ( Huberman et al, 2023 ), allow for the specific identification of different phases of stimulus processing affected by tendencies for SE/SI. So far, however, the study from Aguiar et al (2023) was the only one to apply an ERP-based approach to assess neural correlates of the DCM framework.…”

Early Adversity and Sexual Diversity: the Importance of Self-reported and Neurobiologicalsexual Reward Sensitivity

“…There is a small EEG literature that assesses neural responses to sexual rather than monetary stimuli. For example,Huberman and colleagues [55] identi ed several components of the event-related brain potential (ERP) called the P300 and anterior N270-400 that are sensitive to sexual readiness such that they uctuate in response to viewing an erect versus accid penis. Prause and colleagues [56] found changes in an ERP component called the late positive potential (LPP) in response to explicit versus non-explicit sexual images-which varied based on individual differences in number of sexual intercourse partners.…”

Early adversity and sexual diversity: the importance of self-reported and neurobiological sexual reward sensitivity

“…There is a small EEG literature that assesses neural responses to sexual rather than monetary stimuli. For example, Huberman et al 58 identified several components of the event-related brain potential (ERP) called the P300 and anterior N270-400 that are sensitive to sexual readiness such that they fluctuate in response to viewing an erect versus flaccid penis. Prause et al 59 found changes in an ERP component called the late positive potential (LPP) in response to explicit versus non-explicit sexual images—which varied based on individual differences in number of sexual intercourse partners.…”