1. Lighting the fire, Stoking the flame
Arousal and Response
Lighting the fire, Stoking the flame

2. The Essential Hormones
Two basic types – Steroid & Neuropeptide
Steroid Hormones – secreted by the gonads and adrenal glands
Examples: testosterone, estrogen, etc.
Not simply male or female – both sexes produce each, but in varying amounts

3. Neuropeptide Hormones
Produced in the brain, they influence sexuality and behavior
Perhaps the most significant:
Oxytocin – the “love hormone”, it influences our erotic and emotional bonds

4. Testosterone – “the motivator”
Men have 20 to 40 times more
Effects desire (libido) more than function
But deficiencies do decrease sensitivity and desire
Castration – the surgical removal of the testes causes dramatic reductions in sexual interest and desire

5. Testosterone uses

6. Less Testosterone
Antiandrogens – drugs which reduce testosterone levels
Occasionally given to sex offenders
Usually decreases sexual interest and activity
But sometimes offenders assault for other reasons , such as anger, power and control

7. Hypogonadism – testosterone deficiency due to diseases of the endocrine system
If it begins before puberty, development is slowed
If it starts after puberty, a marked decrease in desire follows

8. Estrogens and Desire
Their influence is undeniable but exact role is unclear
Research findings differ as to whether they increase desire

9. Females & Testosterone
Testosterone clearly increases female sexual desire, sensitivity and activity
True even for women after menopause or removal of the ovaries

10. Women with “normal” levels of sexual activity and hormones who receive additional testosterone show significant increases in sexual arousal, sensation and even lust
Theresa Crenshaw “…. when a woman’s testosterone dwindles, so does her sex life.”

11. More On Testosterone
Women have much less testosterone, but are much more sensitive to its effects
For women, too much testosterone causes problems, such as “unwelcome” changes to secondary sexual characteristics
Women see levels fall more rapidly after menopause than male’s more gradual decline

12. If measured, it is “free” (unattached) testosterone that matters, not “total”
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
commonly available for men
now, slowly becoming an option for women

13. Marketing Testosterone

14. oxytocin
A neuropeptide from the hypothalamus that effects sexual response and attraction
Bonding occurs through its release
mother/child – breast feeding
sexual partners – arousal and response
Autistic children have low levels and corresponding difficulties forming bonds and expressing love

16. Oxytocin and Love Release is triggered by touch
Its circulation increases the skins sensitivity to touch
Levels increase within us as we go through the cycle of arousal to orgasm
Presence remains in blood stream after orgasm facilitating pair bonding

17. The Brain – Our Most Sexual Organ?
Our cerebral cortex stores memories and images producing powerful fantasies
Our culture has conditioned us to have certain preferences for what we consider physically attractive
World-wide prototypes?

18. Exemplars of Beauty
A 2005 poll of plastic surgeons revealed the following as possessing the most desired:
Nose – Nicole Kidman
Eyes – Catherine Zeta Jones
Lips – Angelina Jolie

19. Nose

20. Eyes

21. Lips

22. The Limbic System
A subcortical brain system of several related structures that impact sexual behavior
Investigated through a number of studies

23. Olds (1950’s) Implanted electrodes in rat’s limbic system
Allowed them to control stimulation
When given the chance, rats will “dial their own number” until they reach exhaustion, even up to several thousand times an hour
“pleasure centers”

24. Heath (1972)
Humans with a variety of disorders were allowed to self-stimulate their limbic system
One man pushed his button over 1500/hr, described intense sexual pleasure, and complained whenever a “session” ended
A woman reported similar experiences, even multiple orgasmic responses

25. The Hypothalamus Stimulation greatly arouses rats
Its destruction crushes response
Apparently, the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is especially sensitive
Heroin, morphine and other opiates suppress activity of the MPOA
Dopamine and testosterone excite it

26. Serotonin’s Influence
Presence inhibits sexual activity
Seems to have the opposite effects of dopamine
Released after males ejaculate and blocks or dampens sensitivity to dopamine and oxytocin
SSRI’s have many negative effects on sexuality

27. The Senses Many sources of erotic stimulation
Their influence leads to tremendous variety and amazing sexual complexity

28. Touch
Our nerve endings are unevenly distributed, locations which are most sexually responsive are called our
Primary Erogenous Zones, which include our genitals, lips, buttocks, inner thighs, neck, mouth, perineum
But we find tremendous variability

29. Secondary Erogenous Zones
other areas touched within the context of sexual intimacy
Could be anywhere on the body
Established through classical conditioning?

30. Vision Very important in our society
Emphasis on physical attractiveness, grooming, clothes and cosmetics
Are males more aroused by visual stimuli?

31. Kinsey’s survey said, “YES!”
But once women were presented with the:
1) right stimuli,
2) in the right settings, and
3) measured the right way,
STRONG similarities between men and women were found
though women’s self-reports say no

32. Smell Are genitals smells arousing or awful?
Depends largely on where you live and your acceptance or rejection of fragrance claims.

33. Pheromones Odors secreted by the body which relate to reproduction
Common for mammals
The vomeronasal system relates to their use
Present in humans,
But is it functional?

34. What Works Smells that arouse
Women – licorice, banana nut bread, cucumbers
Men – lavender, pumpkin pie, doughnuts

35. What Doesn’t
Women – barbecued meat, men’s cologne’s
Men – Nothing

36. Aphrodisiacs
Substances that supposedly increase sexual desire and capacity

37. Do They Deliver? Many claims – little evidence
Alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine and marijuana reduce inhibitions but also sexual response
The power of suggestion seems key

38. Hope on the Horizon?
One substance, yohimbine hydrochloride (sap of the tropical evergreen) does increase desire and performance

39. Anaphrodisiacs Substances which inhibit sexual desire and performance
Many things “work”
Drugs such as opiates, tranquilizers, and antidepressants inhibit ejaculation and cause erectile problems in males and decrease orgasmic capacity for females

40. Other Anaphrodisiacs
Birth control pills decrease free testosterone levels
Nicotine both decreases vasocongestion and reduces testosterone levels

41. Sexual Response A highly individualized process
Research has revealed common patterns of physiological changes

42. Kaplan’s Three Stages
Desire – a prelude to physical sexual response, ignored by Masters and Johnson
Excitement
Organism

43. Masters and Johnson
Sexology Trailblazers
Direct Observation

44. Masters and Johnson’s Four Phases
Excitement
both men and women:
muscle tension, anatonia
increased heart rate/blood pressure
engorgement
sex flush

45. More Excitement Women: engorgement lubrication enlargement Men:
erection
enlargement/elevation

46. Stage II - Plateau
The acceleration of processes begun in the excitement phase
Females
the orgasmic platform – the significantly engorged outer 1/3 of the vagina
Lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes

47. Phase III - Orgasm Involuntary muscle spasms
Blood pressure, respirations, heart rate peaks
Males – emission then expulsion

49. Are the males’ and females’ experiences different ?
Descriptions are indistinguishable.

50. Are some Orgasms superior ?
Freud thought so, claiming that vaginal orgasms are more “mature” than clitoral
This view, influential for decades, has been abandoned
Masters and Johnson established that there is just one kind of female orgasm, though most arise from clitoral stimulation

51. Return to the “G” Spot
Once found, manual stimulation produces variable sensations
Intense pleasure and orgasm usually follows
Some women even experience ejaculation
But the source of the fluid is uncertain

53. Finally, Resolution
Process through which sexual systems return to a nonexcited state
While in most respects the sexes experience this process similarly, men go through a refractory period during which they cannot experience another orgasm

54. Aging and the Response Cycle
Function continues but intensity declines
Older women – longer for lubrication
Occasional decreases in desire, sensitivity, and capacity
Older men – longer for erection/orgasm
greater control
longer refractory period

55. Where the Sexes Differ
Despite surprising similarities, some distinctions remain
Variability
Women have three patterns within the sexual response cycle
Men just one

56. The Male Refractory Period
Why?
Evolution based ? Give another guy a chance ?
Dependent on midbrain- hypothalamus pathway ?

57. Multiple Orgasms Women can have several, in succession
But just 14 to 16% ?
Masters and Johnson say most can have 5-6 !
Men can too ?!?