Attraction, Love and Sex Flashcards
(26 cards)
Lust
General sexual desire
Attraction
Focus on a particular mate
Attachment
Instinct towards caretaking
Chemicals associated with
- Lust (2)
- Attachment (2)
- Attraction (4)
- Testosterone, estrogen
- Oxytocin, vasopressin
- Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, nerve growth factor
2 functions of testosterone and estradiol
Sexual development in the brain
Development of secondary sexual characteristics
What is the difference in structure between testosterone and estradiol?
Testosterone has a methyl group that estradiol lacks
Lack of testosterone in castrated males has been linked to…
Aggressive behaviours
Risk taking
Higher energy levels
Higher libido
2 main things driving attraction
Sight
Olfaction
How is sight involved in attraction?
Seeing a beautiful person induces the mu-opioid receptors, our reward system
Dopamine
Androstadienone
Progesterone derivative
Secreted in men’s sweat
Effects endocrine levels, physiological arousal, content-dependent mood
How does serotonin affect mood?
By modulating the affinity of the platelet serotonin transporter
Limbic region
Includes the olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, and amygdala
Functions include emotion, behaviour, long term memory and olfaction
3 chemicals we release to get the initial feelings of love
Norepinephrine (racing heart and excitement)
Dopamine (bliss)
Phenylethylamine
Phenyethylamine
NT closely associated with intense passion and attraction
Its release increases dopamine and NOR
Controls the transition from lust to love
Chemically similar to amphetamines
Dopamine
Linked to pleasure, reward, and addiction
Reinforces the positive reaction associated with the activity/person
Similar to amphetamines
What part of the brain lights up from MRI when people in love see a picture of their significant others?
Frontal lobes saturated with dopamine receptors
Oxytocin
Cuddling or bonding chemical
Levels rise in child-birth for mothers and fathers
Plays a role in various behaviours (orgasm, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, etc)
May promote ethnocentric behaviour, trusting, showing empathy for their group and suspicion/rejection of outsiders
Vasopressin
Similar structure to oxytocin
Monogamy chemical in prairie voles
Males expressing a variant of the AVPR1a receptor are more likely to…
Arginine vasopressin receptor 1a
More likely to express dissatisfaction in their relationship
How does viagra work?
Inhibits cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)
This is an enzyme that promotes degradation of cGMP, which regulates blood flow in the penis
Does not increase libido
PT-141 or Bremelanotide
Causes sexual arousal and spontaneous erections
Activates melanocortin receptors in the hypothalamus
Modulates inflammation and limiting ischemia and causes erectogenesis
Directly increases sexual desire via the nervous system
Concerns about side effects to blood pressure
Flibanserin
Boosts sexual desire in women
Has been rejected twice due to serious side effects
Increases dopamine levels in the brain
Not great efficacy
Positive and negative effects on sex for
- cannabis
- alcohol
- cocaine
- Relaxes muscles and heightens sensitivity, may make you anxious and can eventually lower testosterone and estrogen
- Social lubricant, erectile dysfunction
- Heightens arousal, causes erectile dysfunction/hyperactive paranoia and cant relax/fall asleep
Ecstasy/MDMA
Increases arousal, intense pleasure
Inhibits orgasm, decreases levels of lubrication
Short term: makes brain release serotonin, dopamine and NOR. Body also makes more oxytocin and vasopressin
Long term: depression of NTs
