Visual attention and sexual arousal in women with and without sexual dysfunction

Velten, Julia; Milani, Sonia; Margraf, Jürgen; Brotto, Lori A.

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2021.103915

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…35 Therefore, kisspeptin's enhancement of this area is pertinent given that the more attention a person allocates to sexual stimuli, the more sexual arousal is experienced, 36 whereas individuals with sexual dysfunction typically display less sustained attention to sexual stimuli. 37 Collectively, left MFG activation by Participants with lower baseline satisfaction with sex showed greater KP-enhanced brain activity in the putamen in response to the long sexual video. B through F, Placebo/KP depicts the 16 participants who received placebo at the first study visit and KP at the second; KP/placebo depicts the 16 participants who received KP at the first study visit and placebo at the second.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“… 35 Therefore, kisspeptin’s enhancement of this area is pertinent given that the more attention a person allocates to sexual stimuli, the more sexual arousal is experienced, 36 whereas individuals with sexual dysfunction typically display less sustained attention to sexual stimuli. 37 Collectively, left MFG activation by kisspeptin may enable men with HSDD to increase attentional capture of sexual cues, providing a neural mechanism facilitating arousal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Kisspeptin on Sexual Brain Processing and Penile Tumescence in Men With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

et al. 2023

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ImportanceThe human physiological sexual response is crucial for reward, satisfaction, and reproduction. Disruption of the associated neurophysiological pathways predisposes to low sexual desire; the most prevalent psychological form is hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), which affects 8% of men but currently has no effective pharmacological treatment options. The reproductive neuropeptide kisspeptin offers a putative therapeutic target, owing to emerging understanding of its role in reproductive behavior.ObjectiveTo determine the physiological, behavioral, neural, and hormonal effects of kisspeptin administration in men with HSDD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis double-blind, 2-way crossover, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was performed at a single academic research center in the UK. Eligible participants were right-handed heterosexual men with HSDD. Physiological, behavioral, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and hormonal analyses were used to investigate the clinical and mechanistic effects of kisspeptin administration in response to visual sexual stimuli (short and long video tasks). The trial was conducted between January 11 and September 15, 2021, and data analysis was performed between October and November 2021.InterventionsParticipants attended 2 study visits at least 7 days apart, in balanced random order, for intravenous infusion of kisspeptin-54 (1 nmol/kg/h) for 75 minutes or for administration of a rate-matched placebo.Main Outcomes and MeasuresChanges in (1) brain activity on whole-brain analysis, as determined by fMRI blood oxygen level–dependent activity in response to visual sexual stimuli during kisspeptin administration compared with placebo, (2) physiological sexual arousal (penile tumescence), and (3) behavioral measures of sexual desire and arousal.ResultsOf the 37 men randomized, 32 completed the trial. Participants had a mean (SD) age of 37.9 (8.6) years and a mean (SD) body mass index of 24.9 (5.4). On viewing sexual videos, kisspeptin significantly modulated brain activity in key structures of the sexual-processing network on whole-brain analysis compared with placebo (mean absolute change [Cohen d] = 0.81 [95% CI, 0.41-1.21]; P = .003). Furthermore, improvements in several secondary analyses were observed, including significant increases in penile tumescence in response to sexual stimuli (by up to 56% more than placebo; mean difference = 0.28 units [95% CI, 0.04-0.52 units]; P = .02) and behavioral measures of sexual desire—most notably, increased happiness about sex (mean difference = 0.63 points [95% CI, 0.10-1.15 points]; P = .02).Conclusions and RelevanceCollectively, this randomized clinical trial provides the first evidence to date showing that kisspeptin administration substantially modulates sexual brain processing in men with HSDD, with associated increases in penile tumescence and behavioral measures of sexual desire and arousal. These data suggest that kisspeptin has potential as the first pharmacological treatment for men with low sexual desire.Trial Registrationisrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN17271094

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Kisspeptin on Sexual Brain Processing and Penile Tumescence in Men With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

et al. 2023

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“…This may be partially explained by psychological variables (mood, attention, relationship satisfaction), which may have a stronger impact on women's experience of SSA than pharmacological agents [35]. Velten et al showed that women with clinical and subclinical sexual dysfunctions engage in sexual stimuli to a lesser extent [36]. This finding suggests that therapeutic efforts should focus on increasing attention to sexual cues and simultaneously analyzing women's emotional and cognitive evaluation of these cues [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Velten et al showed that women with clinical and subclinical sexual dysfunctions engage in sexual stimuli to a lesser extent [36]. This finding suggests that therapeutic efforts should focus on increasing attention to sexual cues and simultaneously analyzing women's emotional and cognitive evaluation of these cues [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Function in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Living in Stable Heterosexual Relationships: A Cross-Sectional Study

Warchala,

Madej,

Kochanowicz

et al. 2024

JCM

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Background/Objective: The prevalence and character of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have not been precisely determined. The aim of this study was to assess FSD using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14) in women with PCOS and their partners compared to a control group, as well as correlations between five subscales, the total score of the CSFQ, and seven questions of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Methods: The study sample (N = 160) comprised two groups: (1) women with PCOS and their partners (n = 91) and (2) women without PCOS and their partners (control group; n = 69). Results: The total scores of the CSFQ did not reveal FSD in either group of women. Regarding all subscales and the total score, the analysis showed a statistically significant difference between women and their partners (in all cases: p < 0.001). The discrepancy in arousal between women and men in the PCOS group was large (the mean difference was −2.32; t = −11.29, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = −1.26). The importance (VAS1), the level (VAS7) of sexual satisfaction, and the intensity of sexual thoughts (VAS2) correlated with almost all domains of the CSFQ. Conclusions: In conclusion, normal sexual function in PCOS does not mean proper sexual functioning in a sexual relationship.

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“…Concerning methodological considerations, future studies on SE/SI would benefit from incorporating eye-tracking measures. Former studies in individuals with sexual dysfunctions noted differential viewing patterns of erotic scenes, i.e., greater focus on background or context details compared to sexually explicit stimulus features ( Lykins et al, 2011 ; Velten et al, 2021 ). Correspondingly, individuals with different SE/SI properties might focus on dissimilar stimulus features, although this has not previously been examined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Schmidt,

Hennig,

Munk

2024

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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BackgroundAs outlined by the dual control model (DCM), individual differences in the regulation of sexual arousal following sexual stimulation depend on two distinct neurophysiological processes: sexual excitation (SE) and sexual inhibition (SI). Although associations with sexual function, behavior, and cue processing have been demonstrated in previous research, underlying neural correlates remain insufficiently explored. Moreover, interactive effects of SE/SI as proposed by the DCM, as well as factors impacting SE/SI properties, such as the use of oral contraceptives (OCs), have not received adequate attention in existing research.Methods90 healthy, sexually active women (n = 51 using OCs, n = 39 naturally cycling) completed an Emotional-Picture-Stroop-Paradigm (EPSP) while a 64-channel EEG was recorded. LPP amplitudes toward erotic and neutral stimuli were consecutively computed as a marker of motivational salience and approach motivation. Additionally, women provided self-reports of SE/SI and sexual function. Moderation analyses were performed to assess interactive effects of SE/SI in predicting LPP amplitudes and sexual function.ResultsSexual function was negatively associated with SI levels but unrelated to SE. Higher SI was associated with reduced LPP amplitudes in response to erotic stimuli. This negative association was, however, attenuated for women high in SE, suggesting interactive effects of SE/SI. Furthermore, women using OCs reported lower SE compared to naturally cycling women.ConclusionThe observed findings provide additional psychophysiological evidence supporting the DCM and underscore the relevance of interactive SE/SI effects in stimulus processing and approach motivation. They also highlight the possible impact of OCs on psychosexual variables that warrants further research.

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Visual attention and sexual arousal in women with and without sexual dysfunction

Cited by 9 publications

References 68 publications

Effects of Kisspeptin on Sexual Brain Processing and Penile Tumescence in Men With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Effects of Kisspeptin on Sexual Brain Processing and Penile Tumescence in Men With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Sexual Function in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Living in Stable Heterosexual Relationships: A Cross-Sectional Study

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

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