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Bittoni C, Kiesner J. When the brain turns on with sexual desire: fMRI findings, issues, and future directions. Sex Med Rev 2023; 11:296-311. [PMID: 37500582 DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qead029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION More than 2 decades of neuroimaging research has sought to uncover the neurologic basis of sexual desire. However, the lack of a clear conceptual distinction between sexual desire and sexual arousal or even a broadly accepted definition of sexual desire has led to confusion in the literature regarding brain areas uniquely associated with sexual desire. OBJECTIVES (1) To critically review the neuroimaging literature that seeks to identify brain areas and networks involved in sexual desire; (2) to identify and discuss those brain areas and potential networks that are most promising for providing insights to sexual desire; and (3) to offer recommendations for future studies. METHODS Existing meta-analyses were used as a starting point to identify relevant neuroimaging studies on sexual desire, arousal, and love. This base was then expanded via Google Scholar and forward citation tracking of already identified studies. RESULTS Brain areas that are commonly associated with sexual desire and arousal include the amygdala, hypothalamus, dorsal and ventral striatum, anterior cingulate, insula, and prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex. However, because the same basic paradigm has been used to study sexual desire and arousal, unambiguous conclusions regarding areas uniquely involved in sexual desire cannot be drawn. Moreover, the lack of connectivity analyses and a failure to acknowledge negative BOLD (blood-oxygen level dependent) significantly limit conclusions on the neural basis of sexual desire. CONCLUSION Five recommendations are made. First, stimulus types (ie, erotic vs sexually explicit) should be selected by the meaningful theoretical conceptualization of the constructs of interest. Second, participants should be provided with definitions of sexual desire, mental sexual arousal, and perceived genital sexual arousal, so they can choose which terms best describe their experience. Third, event-related designs should be used with caution when investigating sexual desire. Fourth, time series analyses should be used to identify both positive and negative BOLD. Fifth, connectivity analyses should be performed to identify brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Bittoni
- Department of Psychology (DPSS), University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Jeff Kiesner
- Department of Psychology (DPSS), University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
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2
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Xu Y, Zhang X, Xiang Z, Wang Q, Huang X, Liu T, Yang Z, Chen Y, Xue J, Chen J, Yang J. Abnormal Functional Connectivity Between the Left Medial Superior Frontal Gyrus and Amygdala Underlying Abnormal Emotion and Premature Ejaculation: A Resting State fMRI Study. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:704920. [PMID: 34421524 PMCID: PMC8375680 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.704920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction and is found to be associated with abnormal emotion. The amygdala plays an important role in the processing of emotion. The process of ejaculation is found to be mediated by the frontal-limbic neural circuits. However, the correlations between PE and emotion are still unclear. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired in 27 PE patients with stable emotion (SPE), 27 PE patients with abnormal emotion (NPE), and 30 healthy controls (HC). We used rs-fMRI to explore the underlying neural mechanisms in SPE, NPE, and HC by measuring the functional connectivity (FC). Differences of FC values among the three groups were compared when choosing bilateral amygdala as the regions of interest (ROIs). We also explored the correlations between the brain regions showing altered FC values and scores of the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT)/Eysenck Personality Inventory about neuroticism (EPQ-N) in the PE group. Results When the left amygdala was chosen as the ROI, the SPE group exhibited an increased FC between the left medial superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed) and amygdala compared with the NPE or HC group. When the right amygdala was chosen as the ROI, the NPE group exhibited a decreased FC between the left SFGmed and right amygdala compared with the HC group. In addition, FC values of the left SFGmed had positive correlations with PEDT and negative correlations with EPQ-N scores in the PE group. Moreover, FC values of the left superior temporal gyrus had positive correlations with EPQ-N scores in the PE group. Conclusion The increased FC values between the left SFGmed and amygdala could reflect a compensatory cortical control mechanism with the effect of stabilized emotion in the limbic regions of PE patients. Abnormal FC between these brain regions could play a critical role in the physiopathology of PE and could help us in dividing PE into more subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Department of Andrology, Yangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ziliang Xiang
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinfei Huang
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaoxu Yang
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianguo Xue
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianhuai Chen
- Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Ürümqi, China
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Park JH, Kim E, Cho H, Park DW, Choi J, Jang SH. Brain activation in response to visual sexual stimuli in male patients with right middle cerebral artery infarction: The first case-control functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e25823. [PMID: 34032696 PMCID: PMC8154462 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000025823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction is a common problem after cerebral infarction; however, little is known about sexual arousal in poststroke patients. Thus, this study aimed to investigate brain activation in response to visual sexual stimuli in patients with right middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Using fMRI in 20 participants (11 right MCA infarction patients and 9 age-matched healthy controls), we assessed brain activation elicited by visual sexual stimuli (erotic images) and visual nonsexual stimuli (landscape images). In right MCA infarction patients, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the left frontal subgyral area were more strongly activated by visual sexual stimuli than by nonvisual sexual stimuli. Brain areas that were more activated by visual sexual stimuli in right MCA infarction patients than in controls included the right parahippocampal gyrus and the bilateral frontal subgyral area. These fMRI results suggest that brain activation patterns in response to visual sexual stimuli might be influenced by right MCA infarction. Further research is needed to explore the association between sexual dysfunction and brain activation in poststroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyeon Park
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Gyeonggi-do
| | - Eunkyung Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul
| | - Hyungpil Cho
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Gyeonggi-do
| | | | - Joonho Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Ho Jang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Gyeonggi-do
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4
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Dickenson JA, Diamond L, King JB, Jenson K, Anderson JS. Understanding heterosexual women's erotic flexibility: the role of attention in sexual evaluations and neural responses to sexual stimuli. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 15:447-465. [PMID: 32415978 PMCID: PMC7308660 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many women experience desires, arousal and behavior that run counter to their sexual orientation (orientation inconsistent, 'OI'). Are such OI sexual experiences cognitively and neurobiologically distinct from those that are consistent with one's sexual orientation (orientation consistent, 'OC')? To address this question, we employed a mindful attention intervention-aimed at reducing judgment and enhancing somatosensory attention-to examine the underlying attentional and neurobiological processes of OC and OI sexual stimuli among predominantly heterosexual women. Women exhibited greater neural activity in response to OC, compared to OI, sexual stimuli in regions associated with implicit visual processing, volitional appraisal and attention. In contrast, women exhibited greater neural activity to OI, relative to OC, sexual stimuli in regions associated with complex visual processing and attentional shifting. Mindfully attending to OC sexual stimuli reduced distraction, amplified women's evaluations of OC stimuli as sexually arousing and deactivated the superior cerebellum. In contrast, mindfully attending to OI sexual stimuli amplified distraction, decreased women's evaluations of OI stimuli as sexually arousing and augmented parietal and temporo-occipital activity. Results of the current study constrain hypotheses of female erotic flexibility, suggesting that sexual orientation may be maintained by differences in attentional processing that cannot be voluntarily altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna A Dickenson
- Human Sexuality, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Lisa Diamond
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jace B King
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Kay Jenson
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Anderson
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
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5
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Arsalidou M, Vijayarajah S, Sharaev M. Basal ganglia lateralization in different types of reward. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 14:2618-2646. [PMID: 31927758 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-019-00215-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Reward processing is a fundamental human activity. The basal ganglia are recognized for their role in reward processes; however, specific roles of the different nuclei (e.g., nucleus accumbens, caudate, putamen and globus pallidus) remain unclear. Using quantitative meta-analyses we assessed whole-brain and basal ganglia specific contributions to money, erotic, and food reward processing. We analyzed data from 190 fMRI studies which reported stereotaxic coordinates of whole-brain, within-group results from healthy adult participants. Results showed concordance in overlapping and distinct cortical and sub-cortical brain regions as a function of reward type. Common to all reward types was concordance in basal ganglia nuclei, with distinct differences in hemispheric dominance and spatial extent in response to the different reward types. Food reward processing favored the right hemisphere; erotic rewards favored the right lateral globus pallidus and left caudate body. Money rewards engaged the basal ganglia bilaterally including its most anterior part, nucleus accumbens. We conclude by proposing a model of common reward processing in the basal ganglia and separate models for money, erotic, and food rewards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Arsalidou
- Department of Psychology, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. .,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Sagana Vijayarajah
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maksim Sharaev
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Lu J, Yuan L, Jin J, Yang S, Zhang W, Li M, Zhang X, Wang J, Wu S, Chen Q, Qing Z, Dai Y, Zhang B, Wang Z. Brain Cortical Complexity and Subcortical Morphometrics in Lifelong Premature Ejaculation. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:283. [PMID: 32792928 PMCID: PMC7387657 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual dysfunction. The brain disturbances that cause this disorder remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how the morphology of cortical and subcortical brain structures differed in PE, how these morphologic differences were associated with severity measures of PE, such as intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), and how these cortical and subcortical structures were causally connected through mediation analysis. Anatomical MRI scans were acquired from 39 male participants, 23 with PE (28.78 ± 4.32 years), and 16 without PE (27.88 ± 3.65 years). We used a subcortical analysis package within FSL to perform subcortical shape segmentation and statistical analysis. The PE group was compared with the normal control (NC) group in the shapes of 15 subcortical structures with general linear models [p < 0.05, family-wise error (FWE)-corrected]. We analyzed the cortical complexity revealed by the gyrification index using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12). Vertex-wise shape analyses revealed outward shape deformations (expansions) in the left hippocampus and bilateral thalamus. Gyrification index analyses revealed that the right orbital frontal cortex and the right nucleus accumbens had greater complexity in PE patients. The shape deformations were positively correlated with the IELTs in the NC group, while this relationship was interrupted in the PE group. PE is associated with outward deformations of the subcortical surfaces and more complexity of the cortical structures. These morphological differences may be the basis of the brain functional alterations underlying PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Lu
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Lihua Yuan
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiaxuan Jin
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shangwen Yang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Junxia Wang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Sichu Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhao Qing
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yutian Dai
- Department of Andrology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Department of Radiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhishun Wang
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
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7
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Ren F, Ma Z, Shen Y, Li G, You Y, Yu X, Li Z, Chang D, Zhang P. Effects of Chaihu-Shugan-San capsule for psychogenic erectile dysfunction: Study protocol of a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e17925. [PMID: 31725644 PMCID: PMC6867737 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000017925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects many adult men worldwide. Many studies on the brain of psychogenic ED have shown significant cerebral functional changes and reduced volume of gray matter and white matter microstructural alterations in widespread brain regions. Chaihu-Shugan-San (CHSGS) capsule has been used to treat ED from the 20th century in China. However, clinical research of CHSGS capsule in the treatment of ED was lack. We design this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHSGS capsule in the treatment of patients suffering from psychogenic ED. Furthermore, we also aim to provide a new evidence as well as an innovation of the clinical treatment in psychogenic ED. METHODS This study is designed as a multi-center, 3-arms, randomized trial. From the perspective of psychogenic ED, we will divide patients into 3 groups, which are placebo group, tadalafil group and CHSGS group. One hundred thirty-five patients will be randomly allocated to receive placebo, CHSGS capsule or tadalafil oral pharmacotherapy. After the period of 4-week treatment, the outcome of primary assessment changes in the brain MRI, IIEF-5, EHS, and QEQ total scores from baseline. Secondary assessments include the SEAR, HAMA-14, HAMD-17 scores, response rate of the patients and their partners. DISCUSSION We designed this study based on previous research about psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). This study will provide objective evidences to evaluate the effects of CHSGS capsule as an adjuvant treatment for psychogenic ED. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR-IOR-1800018301.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiqiang Ren
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Ziyang Ma
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Yifeng Shen
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Guangsen Li
- The Urology and Andrology Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Yaodong You
- The Urology and Andrology Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Xujun Yu
- The Andrology Department, The School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Zhengjie Li
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China
| | - Degui Chang
- The Urology and Andrology Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Peihai Zhang
- The Urology and Andrology Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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8
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Zhang S, Zhornitsky S, Le TM, Li CSR. Hypothalamic Responses to Cocaine and Food Cues in Individuals with Cocaine Dependence. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 22:754-764. [PMID: 31420667 PMCID: PMC6929672 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyz044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with cocaine addiction are characterized by under-responsiveness to natural reinforcers. As part of the dopaminergic pathways, the hypothalamus supports motivated behaviors. Rodent studies suggested inter-related roles of the hypothalamus in regulating drug and food intake. However, few studies have investigated hypothalamic responses to drugs and food or related cues in humans. METHODS We examined regional responses in 20 cocaine-dependent and 24 healthy control participants exposed to cocaine/food (cocaine dependent) and food (healthy control) vs neutral cues during functional magnetic resonance imaging. We examined the relationship between imaging findings and clinical variables and performed mediation analyses to examine the inter-relationships between cue-related activations, tonic cocaine craving, and recent cocaine use. RESULTS At a corrected threshold, cocaine-dependent participants demonstrated higher activation to cocaine than to food cues in the hypothalamus, inferior parietal cortex, and visual cortex. Cocaine-dependent participants as compared with healthy control participants also demonstrated higher hypothalamic activation to food cues. Further, the extent of these cue-induced hypothalamic activations was correlated with tonic craving, as assessed by the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire, and days of cocaine use in the prior month. In mediation analyses, hypothalamic activation to cocaine and food cues both completely mediated the relationship between the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire score and days of cocaine use in the past month. CONCLUSIONS The results were consistent with the proposition that the mechanisms of feeding and drug addiction are inter-linked in the hypothalamus and altered in cocaine addiction. The findings provide new evidence in support of hypothalamic dysfunction in cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,Correspondence: Sheng Zhang, PhD, Connecticut Mental Health Center S103, 34 Park Street, New Haven CT 06519 ()
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Thang M Le
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT
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9
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Acevedo BP, Poulin MJ, Geher G, Grafton S, Brown LL. The neural and genetic correlates of satisfying sexual activity in heterosexual pair-bonds. Brain Behav 2019; 9:e01289. [PMID: 31090198 PMCID: PMC6576152 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In humans, satisfying sexual activity within a pair-bond plays a significant role in relationship quality and maintenance, beyond reproduction. However, the neural and genetic correlates for this basic species-supporting function, in response to a pair-bonded partner, are unknown. METHODS We examined the neural correlates of oxytocin- (Oxtr rs53576) and vasopressin- (Avpr1a rs3) receptor genotypes with sexual satisfaction and frequency, among a group of individuals in pair-bonds (M relationship length = 4.1 years). Participants were scanned twice (with functional MRI), about 1-year apart, while viewing face images of their spouse and a familiar, neutral acquaintance. RESULTS Sex satisfaction scores showed significant interactions with Oxtr and Avpr variants associated with social behaviors in a broad network of regions involved in reward and motivation (ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra [SN], and caudate), social bonding (ventral pallidum), emotion and memory (amygdala/hippocampus), hormone control (hypothalamus); and somatosensory and self-other processing (SII, frontal, and temporal lobe). Sexual frequency interactions also showed activations in the SN and paraventricular hypothalamus for Avpr, and the prefrontal cortex for Oxtr. CONCLUSIONS Satisfying sexual activity in pair-bonds is associated with activation of subcortical structures that support basic motivational and physiological processes; as well as cortical regions that mediate complex thinking, empathy, and self-other processes highlighting the multifaceted role of sex in pair-bonds. Oxtr and Avpr gene variants may further amplify both basic and complex neural processes for pair-bond conservation and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca P Acevedo
- University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | | | - Glenn Geher
- State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, New York
| | - Scott Grafton
- University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Lucy L Brown
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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10
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Manzouri A, Savic I. Multimodal MRI suggests that male homosexuality may be linked to cerebral midline structures. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203189. [PMID: 30278046 PMCID: PMC6168246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurobiology of sexual preference is often discussed in terms of cerebral sex dimorphism. Yet, our knowledge about possible cerebral differences between homosexual men (HoM), heterosexual men (HeM) and heterosexual women (HeW) are extremely limited. In the present MRI study, we addressed this issue investigating measures of cerebral anatomy and function, which were previously reported to show sex difference. Specifically, we asked whether there were any signs of sex atypical cerebral dimorphism among HoM, if these were widely distributed (providing substrate for more general 'female' behavioral characteristics among HoM), or restricted to networks involved in self-referential sexual arousal. Cortical thickness (Cth), surface area (SA), subcortical structural volumes, and resting state functional connectivity were compared between 30 (HoM), 35 (HeM) and 38 (HeW). HoM displayed a significantly thicker anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), precuneus, and the left occipito-temporal cortex compared to both control groups. These differences seemed coordinated, since HoM also displayed stronger cortico-cortical covariations between these regions. Furthermore, functional connections within the default mode network, which mediates self- referential processing, and includes the ACC and precuneus were significantly weaker in HoM than HeM and HeW, whereas their functional connectivity between the thalamus and hypothalamus (important nodes for sexual behavior) was stronger. In addition to these singular features, HoM displayed 'female' characteristics, with a similar Cth in the left superior parietal and cuneus cortices as HeW, but different from HeM. These data suggest both singular and sex atypical features and motivate further investigations of cerebral midline structures in relation to male homosexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Manzouri
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, and Neurology Clinic, Karolinska Institute and Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivanka Savic
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, and Neurology Clinic, Karolinska Institute and Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Lu J, Zhang X, Wang H, Qing Z, Han P, Li M, Xia J, Chen F, Yang B, Zhu B, Dai Y, Zhang B. Short- and long-range synergism disorders in lifelong premature ejaculation evaluated using the functional connectivity density and network property. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 19:607-615. [PMID: 29984168 PMCID: PMC6029581 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study was aimed to investigate brain function connectivity in premature ejaculation (PE) patients using the functional connectivity density (FCD) and network property of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty PE patients (mean age: 27.95 ± 4.52 years) and 15 normal controls (mean age: 27.87 ± 3.78 years) with no self-reported history of neurologic or psychiatric disease were enrolled in this study. International Index of Erectile Function-5 and Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation-5 questionnaires and self-reported intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) were obtained from each participant for symptom assessment. Two-sample t-tests (intergroup comparison) were applied in the short-range FCD (SFCD) analysis, long-range FCD (LFCD) analysis, region of interest–based analysis, and network topological organization analysis. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to correlate IELT with FCD or the network property. The patients with PE showed significantly decreased SFCD in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, fusiform, caudate, and thalamus (p < 0.05, AlphaSim-corrected). Notably, all these aforementioned brain areas are located in the dopamine pathway. In contrast, increased LFCD was observed in the left insula, Heschl's gyrus, putamen, bilateral precuneus, supplementary motor area, middle cingulate cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex in PE patients (p < 0.05, AlphaSim-corrected). In addition, the network topological analysis found reinforced network connectivity between several nodes. The degree of hub nodes increased in the patients with PE. IELT was positively correlated with SFCD and negatively correlated with LFCD or the degree of hub nodes (p < 0.05, Pearson correlation). In summary, our results are important for understanding the brain network in PE patients. The present findings indicate that PE patients have a significant synergism disorder across the region of dopamine pathway, which implied neuronal pathological changes might be related with the change of dopamine. The FCD and network property can serve as new disease severity biomarkers and therapeutic targets in PE. PE patients have different patterns of FCD compared with normal controls. The functional brain network efficiency has changed in PE patients. The FCD and network property can serve as disease severity biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Lu
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huiting Wang
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhao Qing
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng Han
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiadong Xia
- Department of Andrology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Yancheng Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Baibing Yang
- Department of Andrology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yutian Dai
- Department of Andrology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Zhang S, Wang W, Zhornitsky S, Li CSR. Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Lateral and Medial Hypothalamus in Cocaine Dependence: An Exploratory Study. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:344. [PMID: 30100886 PMCID: PMC6072838 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of dopamine in cocaine misuse has been extensively documented for the mesocorticolimbic circuit. Preclinical work from earlier lesion studies to recent multidisciplinary investigations has suggested that the hypothalamus is critically involved in motivated behavior, with the lateral and medial hypothalamus each involved in waking/feeding and resting/satiety. However, little is known of hypothalamus function and dysfunction in cocaine misuse. Here, we examined resting state functional connectivity of the lateral and medial hypothalamus in 70 individuals with cocaine dependence (CD) and 70 age as well as gender matched healthy controls (HC). Image pre-processing and analyses followed published work. Compared to HC, CD showed increased lateral hypothalamic connectivity with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and decreased functional connectivity with the ventral precuneus. CD showed increased medial hypothalamic connectivity with the inferior parietal lobule and decreased connectivity with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and ventral striatum. Further, at trend level significance, the connectivity strength between lateral hypothalamus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was positively correlated with total amount of cocaine use in the past month (p = 0.004, r = 0.35) and the connectivity strength between medial hypothalamus and ventral striatum was negatively correlated with cocaine craving as assessed by the Tiffany Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (p = 0.008, r = -0.33). Together, the findings demonstrated altered resting state functional connectivity of the hypothalamus and may provide new insight on circuit level deficits in cocaine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Wuyi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
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13
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Functional insights into aberrant brain responses and integration in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:460. [PMID: 28352072 PMCID: PMC5428429 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00421-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) is highly prevalent, few studies have investigated the neural mechanisms underlying PE. The extent and pattern of brain activation can be determined through a version of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with erotic picture stimuli (task fMRI) and a resting-state fMRI (rs fMRI). We showed that the brain activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus and left insula was decreased both during the task and in the resting state, while there was higher activation in the right middle temporal gyrus during the task. Higher functional connectivity was found in PE between those three brain areas and the bilateral middle cingulate cortex, right middle frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area. Moreover, the brain activity had positive correlation with clinical rating scales, such as intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE). These findings revealed that brain responses and functional integration in certain brain areas are impaired in cases of PE, which was consistently supported by multiple measurements obtained using a task and rs fMRI approach.
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14
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Safron A, Sylva D, Klimaj V, Rosenthal AM, Li M, Walter M, Bailey JM. Neural Correlates of Sexual Orientation in Heterosexual, Bisexual, and Homosexual Men. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41314. [PMID: 28145518 PMCID: PMC5286516 DOI: 10.1038/srep41314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of subjective and genital sexual arousal in monosexual (i.e. heterosexual and homosexual) men have repeatedly found that erotic stimuli depicting men’s preferred sex produce strong responses, whereas erotic stimuli depicting the other sex produce much weaker responses. Inconsistent results have previously been obtained in bisexual men, who have sometimes demonstrated distinctly bisexual responses, but other times demonstrated patterns more similar to those observed in monosexual men. We used fMRI to investigate neural correlates of responses to erotic pictures and videos in heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual men, ages 25–50. Sixty participants were included in video analyses, and 62 were included in picture analyses. We focused on the ventral striatum (VS), due to its association with incentive motivation. Patterns were consistent with sexual orientation, with heterosexual and homosexual men showing female-favoring and male-favoring responses, respectively. Bisexual men tended to show less differentiation between male and female stimuli. Consistent patterns were observed in the whole brain, including the VS, and also in additional regions such as occipitotemporal, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortices. This study extends previous findings of gender-specific neural responses in monosexual men, and provides initial evidence for distinct brain activity patterns in bisexual men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Safron
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, USA
| | - David Sylva
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente, USA
| | | | - A M Rosenthal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente, USA
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
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15
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Seok JW, Sohn JH, Cheong C. Neural substrates of sexual arousal in heterosexual males: event-related fMRI investigation. J Physiol Anthropol 2016; 35:8. [PMID: 26951096 PMCID: PMC4782579 DOI: 10.1186/s40101-016-0089-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual behavior is an important role for the survival of species. The advancement of brain imaging methods has enabled the understanding of the brain mechanism related to sexual arousal. The previous studies on the brain mechanism related to sexual arousal have mostly conducted on block design paradigm. METHODS Despite its requirement for stricter experimental control, the event-related paradigm is known to be more efficient in detecting instant emotional and cognitive responses. The paradigm also enables the observation of hemodynamic responses through time. Therefore, this study used the event-related fMRI to examine the brain activation in various areas associated with sexual arousal as well as changes in hemodynamic responses with time. RESULTS Strong activations were observed in the various areas associated with sexual arousal comprised of various factors: (1) activation areas related to cognitive factors: the occipital lobe and parietal lobe; (2) activation areas related to emotional factors: the thalamus and amygdala; (3) activation areas related to motivational factors: the anterior cingulate gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, and insula; and (4) activation areas related to physiological factors: the precentral gyrus, putamen, and globus pallidus. We also identified the activation of the putamen and globus pallidus that were not well observed in previous block design studies. In the result of the hemodynamic response, the neural activity in those areas showed more transient aspects of the hemodynamic responses relative to the neural activity of other areas. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that the event-related paradigm is better at detecting the neural activity of the brain regions, which tend to appear suddenly, but disappear soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Woo Seok
- Department of Psychology, Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Koong-dong 220, Yusung-gu, Daejeon, Korea. .,Bioimaging Research Team, Division of Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, eongudanji-ro 162, Ochang, Cheongju, Korea.
| | - Jin-Hun Sohn
- Department of Psychology, Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, Koong-dong 220, Yusung-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
| | - Chaejoon Cheong
- Bioimaging Research Team, Division of Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, eongudanji-ro 162, Ochang, Cheongju, Korea.
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Abstract
The neuroanatomical correlates of human sexual desire, arousal, and behavior have been characterized in recent years with functional brain imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). Here, we briefly review the results of functional neuroimaging studies in humans, whether healthy or suffering from sexual disorders, and the current models of regional and network activation in sexual arousal. Attention is paid, in particular, to findings from both regional and network studies in the past 3 years. We also identify yet unanswered and pressing questions of interest to areas of ongoing investigations for psychiatric, scientific, and forensic disciplines.
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17
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Kärgel C, Massau C, Weiß S, Walter M, Kruger THC, Schiffer B. Diminished functional connectivity on the road to child sexual abuse in pedophilia. J Sex Med 2015; 12:783-95. [PMID: 25615561 DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pedophilia is a disorder recognized for its impairment to the individual and for the harm it may cause to others. However, the neurobiology of pedophilia and a possible propensity to sexually abuse children are not well understood. In this study, we thus aimed at providing new insights in how functional integration of brain regions may relate to pedophilia or child sexual abuse (CSA). METHOD By using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique, we compared functional connectivity at rest (RSFC) between pedophiles who engaged (P+CSA; N = 12) or did not engage (P-CSA; N = 14) in CSA and healthy controls (HCs; N = 14) within two networks: (i) the default mode network and (ii) the limbic network that has been linked to pedophilia before. RESULTS Pedophiles who engaged in CSA show diminished RSFC in both networks compared with HC and P-CSA. Most importantly, they showed diminished RSFC between the left amygdala and orbitofrontal as well as anterior prefrontal regions. Though significant age differences between groups could not be avoided, correlation control analysis did not provide evidence for the assumption that the RSFC effects were related to age differences. CONCLUSION We found significantly diminished RSFC in brain networks critically involved in widespread motivational and socio-emotional processes. These results extend existing models of the functional neuroanatomy of pedophilia and CSA as altered RSFC between these regions were related to CSA rather than pedophilia and thus may account for an increased propensity to engage in CSA in people suffering from pedophilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kärgel
- Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, LVR-Clinics Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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18
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Jiang YL, Tian W, Lu G, Rudd JA, Lai KF, Yeung LY, Wai MSM, Li YY, Huang ML, Yew DT. Patterns of cortical activation following motor tasks and psychological-inducing movie cues in heroin users: an fMRI study. Int J Psychiatry Med 2014; 47:25-40. [PMID: 24956915 DOI: 10.2190/pm.47.1.c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Drug abuse and addiction are worldwide health problems. However, few studies have used fMRI to investigate the effect of chronic heroin use on brain activation. This is a study along this line. METHOD fMRI positive sites in the brain were recorded during different motor and sensory activities. RESULTS Following motor activities, heroin users had more sites globally activated in the brain than in normal volunteers, with ex-heroin users being least reactive. Conversely, a "heroin puffing" movie produced more activation in ongoing-heroin and ex-heroin users than in the normal individuals, whereas a movie with explicit sexual content was less stimulatory in both groups of heroin users compared to normal individuals. CONCLUSIONS These significant findings relative to the function of specific brain nuclei are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gang Lu
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and, Kunming Medical University, China
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19
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Brain activation of the defensive and appetitive survival systems in obsessive compulsive disorder. Brain Imaging Behav 2014; 9:255-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s11682-014-9303-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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20
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Zhang P, Liu J, Li G, Pan J, Li Z, Liu Q, Qin W, Dong M, Sun J, Huang X, Wu T, Chang D. White matter microstructural changes in psychogenic erectile dysfunction patients. Andrology 2014; 2:379-85. [PMID: 24711250 DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00191.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2013] [Revised: 01/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Zhang
- The Urology and Andrology Department; The 1st Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - J. Liu
- Life Sciences Research Center; School of Life Sciences and Technology; Xidian University; Xi'an Shaanxi China
| | - G. Li
- The Urology and Andrology Department; The 1st Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - J. Pan
- The Urology and Andrology Department; Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Meishan City; Meishan Sichuan China
| | - Z. Li
- The 3rd Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Q. Liu
- The 3rd Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - W. Qin
- Life Sciences Research Center; School of Life Sciences and Technology; Xidian University; Xi'an Shaanxi China
| | - M. Dong
- Life Sciences Research Center; School of Life Sciences and Technology; Xidian University; Xi'an Shaanxi China
| | - J. Sun
- Life Sciences Research Center; School of Life Sciences and Technology; Xidian University; Xi'an Shaanxi China
| | - X. Huang
- The Urology and Andrology Department; The 1st Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - T. Wu
- The Urology and Andrology Department; The 1st Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - D. Chang
- The Urology and Andrology Department; The 1st Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
- The Andrology Department; The 2nd Teaching Hospital; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Chengdu Sichuan China
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Sylva D, Safron A, Rosenthal AM, Reber PJ, Parrish TB, Bailey JM. Neural correlates of sexual arousal in heterosexual and homosexual women and men. Horm Behav 2013; 64:673-84. [PMID: 23958585 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Revised: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Most men have a category-specific pattern of genital and subjective sexual arousal, responding much more strongly to erotic stimuli depicting their preferred sex than to erotic stimuli depicting their nonpreferred sex. In contrast, women tend to have a less specific arousal pattern. To better understand this sex difference, we used neuroimaging to explore its neural correlates. Heterosexual and homosexual women viewed erotic photographs of either men or women. Evoked neural activity was monitored via fMRI and compared with responses to the same stimuli in heterosexual and homosexual men. Overall, a network of limbic (as well as the anterior cingulate) and visual processing regions showed significantly less category-specific activity in women than men. This was primarily driven by weaker overall activations to preferred-sex stimuli in women, though there was also some evidence of stronger limbic activations to nonpreferred-sex stimuli in women. Primary results were similar for heterosexual and homosexual participants. Women did show some evidence of category-specific responses in the visual processing regions, although even in these regions they exhibited less differential activity than men. In the anterior cingulate, a region with high concentrations of sex-hormone receptors, subjective and neural category specificity measures correlated positively for women but negatively for men, suggesting a possible sex difference in the role of the anterior cingulate. Overall, results suggest that men tend to show more differentiated neural responses than do women to erotic photographs of one sex compared to the other sex, though women may not be entirely indifferent to which sex is depicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sylva
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, USA
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22
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Poeppl TB, Langguth B, Laird AR, Eickhoff SB. The functional neuroanatomy of male psychosexual and physiosexual arousal: a quantitative meta-analysis. Hum Brain Mapp 2013; 35:1404-21. [PMID: 23674246 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive behavior is mandatory for conservation of species and mediated by a state of sexual arousal (SA), involving both complex mental processes and bodily reactions. An early neurobehavioral model of SA proposes cognitive, emotional, motivational, and autonomic components. In a comprehensive quantitative meta-analysis on previous neuroimaging findings, we provide here evidence for distinct brain networks underlying psychosexual and physiosexual arousal. Psychosexual (i.e., mental sexual) arousal recruits brain areas crucial for cognitive evaluation, top-down modulation of attention and exteroceptive sensory processing, relevance detection and affective evaluation, as well as regions implicated in the representation of urges and in triggering autonomic processes. In contrast, physiosexual (i.e., physiological sexual) arousal is mediated by regions responsible for regulation and monitoring of initiated autonomic processes and emotions and for somatosensory processing. These circuits are interconnected by subcortical structures (putamen and claustrum) that provide exchange of sensorimotor information and crossmodal processing between and within the networks. Brain deactivations may imply attenuation of introspective processes and social cognition, but be necessary to release intrinsic inhibition of SA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timm B Poeppl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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23
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Sescousse G, Caldú X, Segura B, Dreher JC. Processing of primary and secondary rewards: A quantitative meta-analysis and review of human functional neuroimaging studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:681-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 393] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Oh SK, Kim GW, Yang JC, Kim SK, Kang HK, Jeong GW. Brain activation in response to visually evoked sexual arousal in male-to-female transsexuals: 3.0 tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging. Korean J Radiol 2012; 13:257-64. [PMID: 22563262 PMCID: PMC3337861 DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2012.13.3.257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to contrast the differential brain activation patterns in response to visual stimulation with both male and female erotic nude pictures in male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals who underwent a sex reassignment surgery. Materials and Methods A total of nine healthy MTF transsexuals after a sex reassignment surgery underwent fMRI on a 3.0 Tesla MR Scanner. The brain activation patterns were induced by visual stimulation with both male and female erotic nude pictures. Results The sex hormone levels of the postoperative MTF transsexuals were in the normal range of healthy heterosexual females. The brain areas, which were activated by viewing male nude pictures when compared with viewing female nude pictures, included predominantly the cerebellum, hippocampus, putamen, anterior cingulate gyrus, head of caudate nucleus, amygdala, midbrain, thalamus, insula, and body of caudate nucleus. On the other hand, brain activation induced by viewing female nude pictures was predominantly observed in the hypothalamus and the septal area. Conclusion Our findings suggest that distinct brain activation patterns associated with visual sexual arousal in postoperative MTF transsexuals reflect their sexual orientation to males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok-Kyun Oh
- Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea
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25
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Functional neuroimaging studies of sexual arousal and orgasm in healthy men and women: a review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2012; 36:1481-509. [PMID: 22465619 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2011] [Revised: 03/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In the last fifteen years, functional neuroimaging techniques have been used to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of sexual arousal in healthy human subjects. In most studies, subjects have been requested to watch visual sexual stimuli and control stimuli. Our review and meta-analysis found that in heterosexual men, sites of cortical activation consistently reported across studies are the lateral occipitotemporal, inferotemporal, parietal, orbitofrontal, medial prefrontal, insular, anterior cingulate, and frontal premotor cortices as well as, for subcortical regions, the amygdalas, claustrum, hypothalamus, caudate nucleus, thalami, cerebellum, and substantia nigra. Heterosexual and gay men show a similar pattern of activation. Visual sexual stimuli activate the amygdalas and thalami more in men than in women. Ejaculation is associated with decreased activation throughout the prefrontal cortex. We present a neurophenomenological model to understand how these multiple regional brain responses could account for the varied facets of the subjective experience of sexual arousal. Further research should shift from passive to active paradigms, focus on functional connectivity and use subliminal presentation of stimuli.
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Cacioppo S, Bianchi-Demicheli F, Frum C, Pfaus JG, Lewis JW. The common neural bases between sexual desire and love: a multilevel kernel density fMRI analysis. J Sex Med 2012; 9:1048-54. [PMID: 22353205 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02651.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION One of the most difficult dilemmas in relationship science and couple therapy concerns the interaction between sexual desire and love. As two mental states of intense longing for union with others, sexual desire and love are, in fact, often difficult to disentangle from one another. AIM The present review aims to help understand the differences and similarities between these two mental states using a comprehensive statistical meta-analyses of all functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on sexual desire and love. METHODS Systematic retrospective review of pertinent neuroimaging literature. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Review of published literature on fMRI studies illustrating brain regions associated with love and sexual desire to date. RESULTS Sexual desire and love not only show differences but also recruit a striking common set of brain areas that mediate somatosensory integration, reward expectation, and social cognition. More precisely, a significant posterior-to-anterior insular pattern appears to track sexual desire and love progressively. CONCLUSIONS This specific pattern of activation suggests that love builds upon a neural circuit for emotions and pleasure, adding regions associated with reward expectancy, habit formation, and feature detection. In particular, the shared activation within the insula, with a posterior-to-anterior pattern, from desire to love, suggests that love grows out of and is a more abstract representation of the pleasant sensorimotor experiences that characterize desire. From these results, one may consider desire and love on a spectrum that evolves from integrative representations of affective visceral sensations to an ultimate representation of feelings incorporating mechanisms of reward expectancy and habit learning.
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Bianchi‐Demicheli F, Cojan Y, Waber L, Recordon N, Vuilleumier P, Ortigue S. Neural Bases of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women: An Event‐Related fMRI Study. J Sex Med 2011; 8:2546-59. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02376.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Fonteille V, Stoléru S. Les corrélats cérébraux du désir sexuel : approche en neuro-imagerie fonctionnelle. SEXOLOGIES 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sexol.2010.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kwon OY, Kam SC, Choi JH, Do JM, Hyun JS. Effects of sertraline on brain current source of the high beta frequency band: analysis of electroencephalography during audiovisual erotic stimulation in males with premature ejaculation. Int J Impot Res 2011; 23:213-9. [DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2011.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Stevenson RA, Stevenson LD, Rupp HA, Kim S, Janssen E, James TW. Incorporating emotions specific to the sexual response into theories of emotion using the Indiana Sexual and Affective Word Set. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2011; 40:59-78. [PMID: 20953902 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-010-9669-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2009] [Revised: 01/27/2010] [Accepted: 06/26/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The sexual response includes an emotional component, but it is not clear whether this component is specific to sex and whether it is best explained by dimensional or discrete emotion theories. To determine whether the emotional component of the sexual response is distinct from other emotions, participants (n = 1099) rated 1450 sexual and non-sexual words according to dimensional theories of emotion (using scales of valence, arousal, and dominance) and according to theories of basic emotion (using scales of happiness, anger, sadness, fear, and disgust). In addition, ratings were provided for newly developed scales of sexual valence, arousal, and energy. A factor analysis produced four factors, together accounting for 91.5% of the variance in participant ratings. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that one word category or factor, labeled "sexual," was predicted only by the new sexual arousal and energy scales. The remaining three factors, labeled "disgusting," "happy," and "basic aversive" were best predicted by basic (or discrete) emotion ratings. Dimensional ratings of valence, sexual valence, and arousal were not predictive of any of the four categories. These results suggest that the addition of sexually specific emotions to basic emotion theories is justified and needed to account fully for emotional responses to sexual stimuli. In addition, the findings provide initial validation for the Indiana Sexual and Affective Words Set (ISAWS), supporting its use in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Stevenson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.
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Lee SH, Hyun JS, Kwon OY. Effect of Sertraline on Current-Source Distribution of the High Beta Frequency Band: Analysis of Electroencephalography under Audiovisual Erotic Stimuli in Healthy, Right-Handed Males. Korean J Urol 2010; 51:550-6. [PMID: 20733961 PMCID: PMC2924559 DOI: 10.4111/kju.2010.51.8.550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2010] [Accepted: 07/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the cerebral changes in high beta frequency oscillations (22-30 Hz) induced by sertraline and by audiovisual erotic stimuli in healthy adult males. Materials and Methods Scalp electroencephalographies (EEGs) were conducted twice in 11 healthy, right-handed males, once before sertraline intake and again 4 hours thereafter. The EEGs included four sessions recorded sequentially while the subjects were resting, watching a music video, resting, and watching an erotic video for 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes, respectively. We performed frequency-domain analysis using the EEGs with a distributed model of current-source analysis. The statistical nonparametric maps were obtained from the sessions of watching erotic and music videos (p<0.05). Results The erotic stimuli decreased the current-source density of the high beta frequency band in the middle frontal gyrus, the precentral gyrus, the postcentral gyrus, and the supramarginal gyrus of the left cerebral hemisphere in the baseline EEGs taken before sertraline intake (p<0.05). The erotic stimuli did not induce any changes in current-source distribution of the brain 4 hours after sertraline intake. Conclusions It is speculated that erotic stimuli may decrease the function of the middle frontal gyrus, the precentral gyrus, the postcentral gyrus, and the supramarginal gyrus of the left cerebral hemisphere in healthy adult males. This change may debase the inhibitory control of the brain against erotic stimuli. Sertraline may reduce the decrement in inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Hyun Lee
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea
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The relationship between age and brain response to visual erotic stimuli in healthy heterosexual males. Int J Impot Res 2010; 22:234-9. [DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2010.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Seo Y, Jeong B, Kim JW, Choi J. Plasma concentration of prolactin, testosterone might be associated with brain response to visual erotic stimuli in healthy heterosexual males. Psychiatry Investig 2009; 6:194-203. [PMID: 20046395 PMCID: PMC2799222 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2009.6.3.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2009] [Revised: 07/05/2009] [Accepted: 07/08/2009] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many studies have showed that excess or lack of sexual hormones, such as prolactin and testosterone, induced the sexual dysfunction in humans. Little, however, is known about the role of sexual hormones showing normal range in, especially, the basal state unexposed to any sexual stimulation. We hypothesized sexual hormones in the basal state may affect sexual behavior. METHODS We investigated the association of the sexual hormones level in the basal hormonal state before visual sexual stimulation with the sexual response-related brain activity during the stimulation. Twelve heterosexual men were recorded the functional MRI signals of their brain activation elicited by passive viewing erotic (ERO), happy-faced (HA) couple, food and nature pictures. Both plasma prolacitn and testosterone concentrations were measured before functional MR scanning. A voxel wise regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between the concentration of sexual hormones in basal state and brain activity elicited by ERO minus HA, not food minus nature, contrast. RESULTS The plasma concentration of prolactin in basal state showed positive association with the activity of the brain involving cognitive component of sexual behavior including the left middle frontal gyrus, paracingulate/superior frontal/anterior cingulate gyri, bilateral parietal lobule, right angular, bilateral precuneus and right cerebellum. Testosterone in basal state was positively associated with the brain activity of the bilateral supplementary motor area which related with motivational component of sexual behavior. CONCLUSION Our results suggested sexual hormones in basal state may have their specific target regions or network associated with sexual response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Younghee Seo
- Department of Psychiatry, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Bumseok Jeong
- Department of Psychiatry, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ji-Woong Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medical Science, Kongyang University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jeewook Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
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Kim W, Jin BR, Yang WS, Lee KU, Juh RH, Ahn KJ, Chung YA, Chae JH. Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and mirtapazine results in differential brain activation by visual erotic stimuli in patients with major depressive disorder. Psychiatry Investig 2009; 6:85-95. [PMID: 20046380 PMCID: PMC2796051 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2009.6.2.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2009] [Revised: 05/12/2009] [Accepted: 05/29/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify patterns of brain activation elicited by erotic visual stimuli in patients treated with either Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or mirtazipine. METHODS Nine middle-aged men with major depressive disorder treated with an SSRI and ten middle-aged men with major depressive disorder treated with mirtazapine completed the trial. Ten subjects with no psychiatric illness were included as a control group. We conducted functional brain magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while a film alternatively played erotic and non-erotic contents for 14 minutes and 9 seconds. RESULTS The control group showed activation in the occipitotemporal area, anterior cingulate gyrus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and caudate nucleus. For subjects treated with SSRIs, the intensity of activity in these regions was much lower compared to the control group. Intensity of activation in the group treated with mirtazapine was less than the control group but grea-ter than those treated with SSRIs. Using subtraction analysis, the SSRI group showed significantly lower activation than the mirtazapine group in the anterior cingulate gyrus and the caudate nucleus. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that the different rates of sexual side effects between the patients in the SSRI-treated group and the mirtazapine-treated group may be due to different effects on brain activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Kim
- Department of Psychiatry and Stress Research Institute, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bo-Ra Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Wan-Seok Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyuong-Uk Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ra-Hyung Juh
- Department of Medical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kook-Jin Ahn
- Department of Radiology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-An Chung
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong-Ho Chae
- Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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Vardi Y, Sprecher E, Gruenwald I, Yarnitsky D, Gartman I, Granovsky Y. The p300 event-related potential technique for libido assessment in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. J Sex Med 2009; 6:1688-1695. [PMID: 19453908 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01280.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a need for an objective technique to assess the degree of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Recently, we described such a methodology (event-related potential technique [ERP]) based on recording of p300 electroencephalography (EEG) waves elicited by auditory stimuli during synchronous exposure to erotic films. AIMS To compare sexual interest of sexually healthy women to females with sexual dysfunction (FSD) using ERP, and to explore whether FSD women with and without HSDD would respond differently to two different types of erotic stimuli-films containing (I) or not containing (NI) sexual intercourse scenes. METHODS Twenty-two women with FSD, of which nine had HSDD only, and 30 sexually healthy women were assessed by the Female Sexual Functioning Index. ERP methodology was performed applying erotic NI or I films. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Significant differences in percent of auditory p300 amplitude reduction (PR) in response to erotic stimuli within and between all three groups for each film type. RESULTS PRs to each film type were similar in sexually healthy women (60.6% +/- 40.3 (NI) and 51.7% +/- 32.3 [I]), while in women with FSD, reduction was greater when viewing the NI vs. I erotic films (71.4% +/- 41.0 vs. 37.7% +/- 45.7; P = 0.0099). This difference was mainly due to the greater PR of the subgroup with HSDD in response to NI vs. I films (77.7% +/- 46.7 vs. 17.0% +/- 50.3) than in the FSD women without HSDD group or the sexually healthy women (67.5% +/- 38.7 vs. 50.4% +/- 39.4 respectively), P = 0.0084. For comparisons, we used the mixed-model one-way analysis of variance. CONCLUSIONS Differences in neurophysiological response patterns between sexually healthy vs. sexually dysfunctional females may point to a specific inverse discrimination ability for sexually relevant information in the subgroup of women with HSDD. These findings suggest that the p300 ERP technique could be used as an objective quantitative tool for libido assessment in sexually dysfunctional women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoram Vardi
- Neuro-urology Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Elliot Sprecher
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ilan Gruenwald
- Neuro-urology Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel;.
| | | | - Irena Gartman
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yelena Granovsky
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
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Bühler M, Vollstädt-Klein S, Klemen J, Smolka MN. Does erotic stimulus presentation design affect brain activation patterns? Event-related vs. blocked fMRI designs. Behav Brain Funct 2008; 4:30. [PMID: 18647397 PMCID: PMC2515325 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-4-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2008] [Accepted: 07/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Existing brain imaging studies, investigating sexual arousal via the presentation of erotic pictures or film excerpts, have mainly used blocked designs with long stimulus presentation times. Methods To clarify how experimental functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) design affects stimulus-induced brain activity, we compared brief event-related presentation of erotic vs. neutral stimuli with blocked presentation in 10 male volunteers. Results Brain activation differed depending on design type in only 10% of the voxels showing task related brain activity. Differences between blocked and event-related stimulus presentation were found in occipitotemporal and temporal regions (Brodmann Area (BA) 19, 37, 48), parietal areas (BA 7, 40) and areas in the frontal lobe (BA 6, 44). Conclusion Our results suggest that event-related designs might be a potential alternative when the core interest is the detection of networks associated with immediate processing of erotic stimuli. Additionally, blocked, compared to event-related, stimulus presentation allows the emergence and detection of non-specific secondary processes, such as sustained attention, motor imagery and inhibition of sexual arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Bühler
- Behavioural & Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK.
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Kaminetsky J. Epidemiology and pathophysiology of male sexual dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 2008; 20 Suppl 1:S3-10. [DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2008.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Hyun JS, Kam SC, Kwon OY. Changes of Cerebral Current Source by Audiovisual Erotic Stimuli in Premature Ejaculation Patients. J Sex Med 2008; 5:1474-81. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00734.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Miyagawa Y, Tsujimura A, Fujita K, Matsuoka Y, Takahashi T, Takao T, Takada S, Matsumiya K, Osaki Y, Takasawa M, Oku N, Hatazawa J, Kaneko S, Okuyama A. Differential brain processing of audiovisual sexual stimuli in men: Comparative positron emission tomography study of the initiation and maintenance of penile erection during sexual arousal. Neuroimage 2007; 36:830-42. [PMID: 17493836 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2006] [Revised: 02/25/2007] [Accepted: 03/15/2007] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The human male psychosexual cycle consists of four phases: excitation, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Identification of the specific neural substrates of each phase may provide information regarding the brain's pathophysiology of sexual dysfunction. We previously analyzed regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with H(2)15O-positron emission tomography (PET) during the excitation phase (initiation of penile erection) induced by audiovisual sexual stimuli (AVSS) and identified activation of the cerebellar vermis, the bilateral extrastriate cortex, and right orbitofrontal cortex, suggesting a role of cognition/emotion in the excitement phase. In the present study, we analyzed rCBF of the same six healthy volunteers during the plateau phase (maintenance of penile erection) induced by AVSS and compared the results with those of the excitation phase. Penile rigidity was monitored in real time with RigiScan Plus during PET scanning. Images were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping (SPM) software, and rCBF in the amygdala, hypothalamus, anterior cingulate, and insula was measured. During the plateau phase, primary subcortical activation was noted in the right ventral putamen, indicating motivational factors in the sexual response via the limbic reward circuit. A significant increase in rCBF in the left hypothalamus was also observed during the plateau phase. The right anterior cingulate and left insula were specifically activated during the excitation phase but not during the plateau phase. These results indicate a significant role of the ventral putamen and the hypothalamus in the plateau phase and confirm that paralimbic and limbic components of the human brain differentially coordinate the sexual response in a psychosexual phase-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Miyagawa
- Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
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