The Brain and Sexual Arousal
In what ways does the brain influence sexual arousal?
The Senses and Sexual Arousal
How do the senses of touch, vision, smell, taste, and hearing contribute to erotic arousal?
Aphrodisiacs and Anaphrodisiacs in Sexual Arousal
What substances have been shown to either heighten or reduce sexual arousal?
The Role of Hormones in Sexual Behavior
What is the role of hormones in human sexual arousal?
Sexual Response
What common physiological changes accompany each stage of the sexual response cycles?
Aging and the Sexual Response Cycle
What common variations occur in the sexual response cycles of older women and men?
Differences Between the Sexes in Sexual Response
What are some of the significant differences between the sexes in
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There was never any heat or passion in my five-year relationship with Doug. He was a nice man, but I could never bridge the gap between us, which was due, in large part, to his unwillingness or inability to let go and express his feelings and vulnerability. Our lovemaking was like that too — kind of mechanical, as though he was there physically but not emotionally. I seldom felt any sexual desire for Doug, and sometimes my body barely responded during sex. How different it is with Matt, my current and, hopefully, lifetime partner. there was an almost instant closeness and intimacy at the beginning of our relationship. the first time we made love I felt like I was on fire. It was like we were melded together, both physically and emotionally. Sometimes just hearing his voice or the slightest touch arouses me intensely. (Authors’ files)
Sexual arousal and sexual response in humans are influenced by many factors: our brain’s capacity to create images and fantasies, our emotions, various sensory processes, hormones, the level of intimacy between two people, and a host of other influences. We begin this chapter by discussing some of the things that influence sexual arousal. We then turn our attention to ways our bodies respond to sexual stimulation. We concentrate primarily on biological factors and events associated with human sexual arousal and response, but by focusing on physiology we do not mean to minimize the importance of psychological and cultural influences. In fact, psychosocial factors probably play a greater role than biological factors do in the extremely varied patterns of human sexual response, as we will discover in later chapters. However, it is always difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate between the complementary roles of psychological and biological factors as they influence our sexuality. How do you separate the rich diversity of psychological influences from where they are collected, interpreted, and stored in the human nervous system? Clearly, the expression of our sexuality is determined by a complex interplay or interaction among social, emotional, and cognitive factors; hormones; brain neurons; and spinal reflexes. Furthermore, an improved understanding of the various influences that help to shape our individual patterns of sexual arousal and response can add an important dimension to our expanding sexual intelligence.