PSY2003 SEMESTER 1 - WEEK 10 Flashcards
what type of nuclei is there strong evidence for being involved in sexual, reproductive behaviour
hypothalamic nuclei, suggest hormone act perinatally to drive differentiation of several hypothalamic nuclei
why is sexual behaviour difficult to study
private, hard to define, vary across individual/culture,
intra-individual variation (age, dev, cirucmstance, life event, wellbeing)
in male rats, what area of hypothalamus is important for motor sexual behaviours
medial preoptic area (MPAO)
what does lesioning MPAO hypothalamus in male rats do
stops behaviour, stimulation elicit behaviours
does MPAO hypothalamus in male rats command motor plan or produce motivational state
motivational states, in line with general hypothalamic function
what part of hypothalamus in female rats is responsible for lordosis
ventromedial nucleus
what does electrical stimulation of VMN in male rats do
elicits lordosis
what are the kinsey reports
taxonomy of human sexual behaviour based on interview
studied type, frequency
widely cited in academic literature
name weaknesses of kinsey reports
statistical/sampling issues
what was Masters & Johnson research into sexual behaviours and disorders in 1950/60
measure aspects of intercourse or masturbation in lab
what resulted from Masters & Johnson research into human sexual behaviour
highly influential 4-stage model for human sexual behaviour - sexual responses cycle
name 4 stages in Sexual response cycle
desire
plateau
orgasm
resolutino
what is more recent work in sex including
redefining term, adding variability into cycle, determining neuroanatomical correlates of components of cycle
what 3 major components linked to distinct brain systems, in regard to sex
wanting, liking, learning
what factors impacts on sexual desire
attitude, opportunity, partner availability, health, mood
what does sexual desire require
implicit sensory stimulus evaluated as being sexual salient by past experience
what is role of cerebral and sensorimotor cortex for sex
cerebral= trigger autonomic response
sensorimotor= voluntary movements, higher order associative areas for mental imageries
define sexual identity
capture aspect of both gender identity and sexual orientation
in animal models, what can lead to opposite sex/same-sex preferences
perinatal sex hormone exposure
castration
lesions
what is fraternal birth order effect
more brothers, mean more likely to identify as gay
effect still there if raised in different household, but not step-brother/adopted brother, implying due to maternal immunisation hypotheses
give support for FBOE
robust across culture
older sister, younger sibling have no effects
how many gay men may sexual orientation to FBOE?
15-29%
summarise maternal immunisation hypothesis
interaction between foetus and mother leaves behind ‘legacy’, baby affected by presence of past male child in development of brain
give weaknesses of biological theories of sexual preferences
little evidence (perinatal hormone exposure modulates same-sex/opposite sex preference)
evidence suggest specific hypothalamic nuclei play role in preference, difference in size of nuclei depending on if gay/straight
give evidence for biological theories of sexual preference
family, twin studies moderate genetic influence on sexual orientation (40% variance in males, 20% variance in females)
what did Genome Wide Association find regarding specific markers associated for sexual orientation
some found
none were predictive of sexual orientations
explain gender bias of sexual research
more male ppt, evidence into male sex dysfunction (viagra), despite being similar prevalence rate
when defining sexual dysfunction, name the 4 approaches
- deviation from statistical normality
- deviation from social norms
- self-distress
- deficits in normal function
give weaknesses of deviation from statistical normality approach to defining sexual pathology
arbitrary in usefulness (depend on individual, age, culture, circumstances)
rely on extensive data for building curve (hard to get with sexual research)
cross-cultural granularity
cut off point still subjective (5%, 10%….)
give weaknesses if deviation from social norms approach to defining sexual pathology
social norm not always functional, subjective perception differ from actual norm
cultural, historical variation
political influence
circularity (norms creating pathology)
powerful influences on social judgement
give weaknesses of self-distress approach to defining sexual pathology
requires awareness, some don’t experience distress
social norms, protecting others (law)
persistence of distress’ frequency important (individual difference, depends on life situation)
give weaknesses of deficits in normal function approach to defining sexual pathology
some maladaptive response has a reasonable basis (impact of sexual abuse) = unhelpful pathologising
cut across individual-life choice
ignore individual experiences
interacts with social norm
DSM breaks down sex/gender related disorders into what 3 category
sexual dysfunction
paraphillic disorders
gender dysphoria
define sexual dysfunction
problems with experiencing human sexual response cycle
name sexual dysfunction disorder for desire stage in sex cycle
male hypoactive sexual desire disorder
name sexual dysfunction disorder for plateau stage in sex cycle
female sexual interest/desire disorder
erectile disorder
name sexual dysfunction disorder for orgasm stage in sex cycle
female orgasmic disorder
delayed ejaculation
early ejaculation
name sexual dysfunction disorder for resolution stage in sex cycle
sexual pain disorders- genitopelvic pains
name risk factors of sexual dysfunction
gender related
certain health conditions
sexual abuse
name treatments for sexual dysfunction
symptom focused
psychotherapy (individual/couple)
biological (drug/device)
name issues of having sexual dysfunction disorder as category
over-pathologise intra/inter individual difference
more common in females, but due to reporting biases
define paraphillic disorders
inappropriate activation of human sexual response cycle
detail what paraphilic disorders are, what is needed for diagnosis
satisfaction involves distress/harm to individual/other
either directed to non-consenting (paedo, exhbibionsist disorder)
or non-direct (fetishistic, trasvestic)
or experience, inflict suffering= machochism and sadism
name risk factors of paraphilic disorders (in general)
male, hypersexuality
name risk factors for pedophilic disorder
past sexual abuse, attachment problems, psychiatric problem, substance abuse
what is cause of paraphilic disorders
either psychodynamic, cog, bio
name treatments for paraphilic disorders
behavioural techniques, cognitive therapies, hormonal or drug treatments
define gender dysphoria
unhappiness due to perceived gender differing from their assigned gender
whats needed for diagnosis of gender dysphoria
marked, persistence cross gender identification
significant distress or impairments of function
lack of physical intersex condition
how common is a gender dysphoria diagnosis
0.01% males, less in female
recent= BMA cited evidence of 1% population experiencing gender incongruencies
name risk factors/cause of gender dysphoria
lacking evidence
some for paternal relationship (male), childhood abuse (females)
lack support for parental attitude/behaviour
biological influence (inutero hormone exposure)
evidence of twin study heritable, no single gene found
name treatments of gender dysphoria
psychological (beh, cog, some success however client often resistant)
gender reassignment surgery, satisfactory outcome but may not alleviate other psych comorbidity
what is psychobiological model for gender dysphoria
neurobiological basis and is closely associated with individuals interaction with external world, self-perception, feedback received in return
4 stage of gender identity development:
chromosomal, phenotypic, brain, experienced
name issues of psychobiological model of gender dysphoria
downplay environmental and brain plasticity aspects
binary in nature (no non binary)
causality regarding brain differences not well-established by evidence
outline human sexual behaviour from network perspective
similar activation patterns across gender, sexual preference
what is sexual interest disorder associated with
reduced sexual cue sensitivity suggested by structural/functional change in amgydala, ACC, NAC
what does neurobehavioural model suggest about component
cognitive, emotional, motivational and autonomic
what areas link to cognitive-attention areas in sex
cerebral cortex (OFC + superior parietal)
what areas link to autonomic part of sex
hypothalamus and insula
what areas regulate autonomic and endocrine controls for sexual behaviour
hypothamalus
explain role of dopaminergic reward system in sex
triggers sexual motivation, increase DA triggers hypersexuality
ventral striatum neural correlate for sex preference
thalamus relays from spinal cord, to cortex and integrates desire, arousal, orgasm
what is role of hypothalamus, what does lesioning do?
stimulate/inhibit secretion of pituitary hormones
lesioning= sex drive + penile erection
what is role of amygdala, what do lesion cause
sex drive, smell and pheromone processing, emotion processing, regulating autonomic responses and complex cognitive functions
lesion= abnormal sexual behaviour
what is role of PFC in sex
planning, personality, decision making, correct social behaviour, sexual inhibition
lesions= hypersexuality
what is role of cingulate cortex
processing sexual stimulus
what is role of insula
facilitate attention, WM, processing sensory stimulus, relay to other cortical area, regulates autonomic responses
what is role of serotonin in sex
act on smooth muscle of vascular system, impacts motor functions
what is role of dopamine in sex
motor aspect
what is role of norepinepherine in sex
motor aspects via autonomic activation
what is role of acetylcholine in sex
motor aspects, reverse antidepressant induced erection difficulties
what is role of histamine in sex
lead to erection, modulate sexual behaviour and libido
what is role of opioids in sex
sexual impairments
