The brain plays an important role in our sexuality. Our thoughts, emotions, and memories are all mediated through the brain’s complex mechanisms. Sexual arousal can occur without any sensory stimulation; it can result from fantasy (for example, thinking of erotic images or sexual interludes). Some individuals can even reach orgasm during a fantasy experience without any physical stimulation (Komisaruk et al., 2006; Whipple & Komisaruk, 1999).
We know that specific events can cause us to become aroused. Less apparent is the role of individual experience and cultural influence, both of which are mediated by our brains. Clearly, we do not all respond similarly to the same stimuli. Some people can become highly aroused if their partners use explicit sexual language; others find such words threatening or a sexual turnoff. Cultural influences also play an important role. For example, the smell of genital secretions may be more arousing to many Europeans than to members of our own deodorant-conscious society. Before turning to a more detailed discussion of the brain and sexual arousal, we take a brief look at cultural influences on sexual arousal in the following Sexuality and Diversity discussion.
SEXUALITY and DIVERSITY