SEX ARTICLES

Question 1

What are the three phases in sexual behaviour?

Answer 1

• Wanting (motivation)
• Liking (consummation)
• Inhibition (satiety)

Question 2

What area is more activated during consummation phase in rodents, but hard to find activation in humans?

Answer 2

Nucleus accumbens.

Question 3

What is the effect of serotonin on sexual behaviour?

Answer 3

It inhibitis sexual responses. Seen in both humans and rodents. Might explain exaggerated prefrontal activity in people with low sexual desire.

Question 4

What shift in brain activity is conserved between other pleasure cycles?

Answer 4

The balance between brain networks shifts when a transition from the wanting-phase to liking-phase occurs.

Question 5

What is the most likely explanation for divergent changes in brain area activity, between animals and humans?

Answer 5

Humans use mental representations, introspective thinking, and empathy during their sexual cycle. Whereas this is unknown for animals.

Question 6

What brain areas are activated and what areas are inhibited during wanting-phase?

Answer 6

Activated: Hypothalamus, Orbitofrontal cortex, Ventral Striatum, Amygdala, aCC
Inhibited:

Question 7

What brain areas are activated and what areas are inhibited during liking phase?

Answer 7

Activated: Somatosensory cortex (genital c1), anterio-medial cingulate cortex, Hypothalamus

Inhibited: Amygdala, Medial temporal lobe, vmPFC

Question 8

What brain areas are activated and what areas are inhibited during orgasm?

Answer 8

Activated: Cerebellum (?)

Inhibited: dlPFC, Amygdala, Medial temporal lobe

Question 9

What brain areas are activated and what areas are inhibited durig inhibition?

Answer 9

Activated: Hypothalamus, vmPFC, Orbitofrontal cortex.

Inhibited: Amygdala, Medial temporal lobe.

Question 10

What areas are activated in all phases of sexual behaviour, except orgasm?

Answer 10

Hypothalamus and cingulate cortex. (however different parts of cc for different phases)

Question 11

What are the biggest differences in brian area activity between wanting and liking phase?

Answer 11

• OFC activation (only wanting)
• Anterior cc activation (pregenual (frontal) in wanting, medial in linking)
• Medial-temporal lobe inhibition (only liking)
• Amygdala (activation in wanting, inhibition in liking).