Neuroelectric Correlates of Human Sexuality: A Review and Meta-Analysis

Many reviews on sexual arousal in humans focus on different brain imaging methods and behavioral observations. Although neurotransmission in the brain is mainly performed through electrochemical signals, there are no systematic reviews of the electrophysiological correlates of sexual arousal. We per...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of sexual behavior 2023-02, Vol.52 (2), p.497-596
Main Authors: Ziogas, Anastasios, Habermeyer, Elmar, Santtila, Pekka, Poeppl, Timm B., Mokros, Andreas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Brain - physiology
Brain research
Cognition & reasoning
Electromyography
Emotions
Erectile dysfunction
Exhibitionism
Forensic psychiatry
Humans
Meta-analysis
Orgasm
Orgasm - physiology
Original Paper
Psychology
Public Health
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Behavior - physiology
Sexuality
Social Sciences
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Summary:Many reviews on sexual arousal in humans focus on different brain imaging methods and behavioral observations. Although neurotransmission in the brain is mainly performed through electrochemical signals, there are no systematic reviews of the electrophysiological correlates of sexual arousal. We performed a systematic search on this subject and reviewed 255 studies including various electrophysiological methods. Our results show how neuroelectric signals have been used to investigate genital somatotopy as well as basic genital physiology during sexual arousal and how cortical electric signals have been recorded during orgasm. Moreover, experiments on the interactions of cognition and sexual arousal in healthy subjects and in individuals with abnormal sexual preferences were analyzed as well as case studies on sexual disturbances associated with diseases of the nervous system. In addition, 25 studies focusing on brain potentials during the interaction of cognition and sexual arousal were eligible for meta-analysis. The results showed significant effect sizes for specific brain potentials during sexual stimulation (P3: Cohen’s d  = 1.82, N  = 300, LPP: Cohen’s d  = 2.30, N  = 510) with high heterogeneity between the combined studies. Taken together, our review shows how neuroelectric methods can consistently differentiate sexual arousal from other emotional states.
ISSN:0004-0002
1573-2800
DOI:10.1007/s10508-019-01547-3