El cervell eròtic

El cerebro erótico: rutas neurales de amor y sexo
Adolf Tobeña
Departamento de Psiquiatria y Medicina Legal. Instituto de Neurociencias.
08193 Bellaterra Campus. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

¿EL SEXO MUEVE EL MUNDO?...
“Más tira pelo de concha que yunta de bueyes”, (Popular hispana).
¿EL MOTOR PRINCIPAL DE LOS AFANES Y DESVELOS
HUMANOS?...
- Biólogos = Sexo
- Economistas = Dinero
- Politólogos = Poder
- Publicistas = Notoriedad
- Periodistas = Curiosidad
- Sociólogos = Fútbol
- Religiosos = Esperanza
- Literatos = Mitos
- Filósofos = Sabiduría
- Físicos = Azar
- Artistas = Originalidad
- Cultura popular = Envidia
- Psicólogos, Psiquiatras= (?)…, Perplejos!…
“El cerebro es mi segundo órgano preferido”, (Woody Allen).
SEX IS PLEASANT
…..BUT SOCIALLY
CHALLENGING DUE,
MAINLY, TO ITS
INTERPERSONAL POWER
LINKS…

Georgiadis JR and Kringelbach ML (2012) , Progress in Neurobiology, 98, 49-81

Georgiadis JR, Kringelbach LM and Pfaus JG (2012)
Nature Reviews Urology, 9, 486-498.

Neuroimaging of love: fMRI meta-analysis evidence toward
new perspectives in sexual medicine
Ortigue S, Bianchi-Demicheli F, Patel N, Frum C and Lewis JW (2010), Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7, 11, 3541-3552.
Passion love system

The erotic brain
Sexual Attraction
Desire, impulse
Sexual Orientation
Sexual pleasures
Clímax responses
Romantic Infatuation
Jealousies, Heartbreaks
Maternal/Paternal loves
Friendship attachments
Platonic devotions
Sentimental exploitations …
Mind/brain states subserved by
specific neuroendocrine (complex)
mechanisms
Social affiliation system:
imperfect monogamy, in
humans

SocioSexual rules in Apes
HUMANS:
- Imperfect monogamy
(Serial monogamy,
moderate polyginia..…)
- Preference for a partner +
frequent scanning for
alternatives + collateral
matings
- High behavioural/social
flexibility
monogamous bird‘s mating systems

Meeting with strangers and sex: David Buss (1994)
classical Hawai City study
Questions on casual/brief “spontaneous” encounter:
1. Would you go out on a date with me tonight?
2. Would you go back to my apartment with me tonight?
3. Would you have sex with me tonight?
WOMEN MEN
1. (50%) (50%)
2. ( 6%) ANSWER YES!!! (68%)
3. (0%) (75%)
Prudent vs. Impulsive!!

HUMAN IMPERFECT MONOGAMY/MODERATE POLIGYNIA
1. BIPARENTAL INVESTMENTS (Differences women vs. men)
- Neotenic infants (large period of brain maturation off
utero)
- Extended learning period in childhood
2. BATTLE OF THE SEXES:
- Concealed ovulation in women
- Concealed estrus (heat)
- Extended sexuality (nonrestricted receptivity)
- Feminine/masculine ornaments (attractive signals)
- Mate guarding
- Extrapair copulations (cuckoldry)

CHROMOSOMAL SEX
GONADAL SEX
EXTERNAL GENITALIA SEX
BODY MORPHOLOGY SEX
VOICE SEX
BRAIN SEX
MIND-IDENTITY SEX (Gender)
INTERNAL GENITALIA SEX
MIND-PREFERENCES SEX (Orientation)
Continuities
pathways…,
vs. Variability,
Disparities and
Ambiguities….,
Biological vs.
Environmental vs.
Sociocultural
influences???...

Scatterplot of men (top) and women (down) in
the 2-dimensional space defined by their
attraction to men (x axis) and women (y axis)
Lippa RA (2006),
Psychological Science, 17, 1, 46-52.
1767 subjects (687 males and 1080 females),
mostly Psychology students from California
State University, Fullerton, answering
privately (through internet) valid
questionnaires and scales about sexual
attraction.
HOMO/HETERO
ATTRACTION/PREFERENCES

Erotic brain: motivational/performance systems

Hypothalamic sex-regulating areas:
anterior/preoptic and medial regions
- Sexual identity/orientation
- Sexual motivation/performance

Cameron JL (2004), in RE Dahl and LP Spear
(Eds.): Adolescent brain development, Annals
NYAS, Vol. 1021, 110-123.

Mean youth values of steroid hormones in each sex
Females (N=81) Males (N=102)
Follicular Luteal
DHEAS (ng/ml) 1,32 (0,64) 1,3 (0,62) 2,07(0,93)
AD (ng/ml) 3,8 (2,56) 5,99 (2,78) 0,99 (0,6)
DHEA (ng/ml) 6,24 (6,5) 3,2 (3,4) 1,48 (1,03)
LH (miu/ml) 15,06 (6,17) 30,,57 (17,6) 10,75 (4,8)
T (ng/ml) 0,6 (0,4) 0,73 (0,4) 4,98 (2,56)
TEBG (nmol/l) 57,8 (21,7) 67,4(33,9) 46,75( (13,7)
FTI 0,04 (0,04) 0,04 (0,03) 41,8 (26,6)
P (ng/ml) 1,08 (1,23) 4,53 (5,73) -
E (ng/ml) 0,066 (0,058) 0,19 (0,10) -
DHEA= Dihidroepiandrosterone; AD: Androstenodione; LH: Luteinizing hormone; T= Testosterone;
TEBG=Testosterone binding globuline; FIT= Free testosterone; P= Progesterone; E= Estradiol.
From Udry (1990).

Granger DA et al (2004) Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29, 1229-1240

Body form and healthy/young
attributes as a source of sexual
cues
Salient/Appealing
Cues + Neural
Templates for
physical
attractiveness
SEXUAL ADVERTISING QUALITIES OF THE HUMAN
BODY-SKIN

Physical Beauty/Sex appeal variations:
- Age, billateral simmetry
- Race/Ethnicities
- Culture/Fashion ….
Continuities:
- Feminine morph/faces/bodies (estrogenic)
- Masculine morph/faces/bodies (androgenic)

APPEALING ATTRIBUTES OF GENDER’S BODIES MORPHOLOGIES
PUBLICIDAD GOLOSA: SEX APPEAL

Mautz BS, Wong BBM, Peters RA and Jennions MD (2013) PNAS,
110, 17, 6925-6930.
- 343 figurine-videos (frontal/rotated 30º lateral), presented 4 sec., each.
- penises from 5-13 cm. long, flaccid, coming from 3300 italians (an
urological normative sample).
- 105 australian women as judges, 26 years old, 71,8 % whites, rest other
origins. They had to judge 53 figurines appearing by chance at the screen
None ATTRACTIVENESS Maximal
1 7
Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of
nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and
circumference in up to 15,521 men
Veale D, Miles S, Bramley S, Muir G and Hodsoll J (2015), British
Journal of Urology International, March 3, doi: 10.1111/bju.13010).

Mautz BS, Wong BBM, Peters RA and Jennions MD (2013) PNAS, 110, 17,
6925-6930.
Results:
- Up to 2 attractiveness points can be gained by longer penises, once shoulder-to-hip
ratios and heights controlled.
- 70% variance in attractiveness explained by higher shoulder-to-hip ratios; 10-15% by
penis length (from 10 cm. onwards), and 10-15% by height (1,78-1,87 m, optimum).
- r=0,2 between penis size and women’s inspection times.
- Effects more substantial for taller men.
- Taller and bulky women demand longer penises.

Dixson BJ et al (2010), Archives Sexual Behavior, 39, 798-806.
185 New Zealand and 81 Californian women, 20 years old, judging
Photoshop modified images (penile length or somatic type).
Unattractive 0 Attractiveness 5 Extremely attractive
22%
44%

Neural systems for reward and addiction:
from actions, to habits to compulsions.
Everitt BJ and Robbins TW (2005) Nature
Neuroscience, 8, 1481-9.
Green arrows: Glutamate
Orange arrows: Dopamine
Pink arrows. GABA
ATTRACTION SYTEMS: FACES

Facial testosteronic traits: atractiveness and dominance
Jonhston VS (2006) Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 10, 1, 9-13

Jonhston VS (2006) Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 10, 1, 9-13
b. average face from 117 samples; a. feminized c. masculinized d. hipermasculinized.

Roberts SC et al (2004) Proc. Roy. Soc. London: Biology Letters, 271, S270-S272.

Knut K, Kampe W, Frith ChD, Dolan RJ and
Frith U (2004), Nature, 413, 589-590.

Bare skin + Gaze + Gesture as
salient/sexy cues
Neural systems for reward and addiction: from
actions, to habits to compulsions.
Everitt BJ and Robbins TW (2005) Nature Neuroscience, 8,
1481-9.
Green arrows: Glutamate
Orange arrows: Dopamine
Pink arrows: GABA
Sexual
stimuli
Sex-appeal cues and reward
systems

Fiorino DF, Coury Aand Phillip AG (1995) The Journal of Neuroscience, 17, 12,
4849-4853.

SEXUAL ADVERTISING +
INDUCING QUALITIES OF
THE BODY-SKIN
- Visual cues from a distance
- Direct cues from touch and
taste
- Indirect cues (aware/nonaware)
as smell

Redouté J et al (2000) Human Brain Mapping, 11, 162-177.
EROTIC NEUROIMAGING

Stimuli N= neutral videos; H= Humorous videos; A: nonarousing women
pictures; B: moderately arousing women pictures; C. highly arousing women
pictures; S: Explicit heterosexual coitus videos.

Miyagawa Y et al (2007), Neuroimage, 36, 830-842.
Six healthy heterosexual men, age= 30-39
years, sexually mature (T and semen
measures), had penile recordings and PET
scans while viewing sexually explicit
intercourses (S) vs. control clips (N,M).
Figure: A, B specific activations at the ventral
right putamen during sexual plateau (Sp).
Differences in activation also obtained on the
left anterior hypothalamus, ACC, insula and
right posterior parieto/temporal regions.

Giorgiadis JR et al (2006), European Journal
of Neuroscience, 24, 3305-3316.
12 heterosexual women
volunteers, mean age 34
years, range 21-47,
accompanied by their
partners who manually
stimulated them during
the PET scan sessions.
In addition to main effects (Figure),
there were specific results in the
contrasts Stim vs. Rest, Orgasm vs.
Rest and Orgasm vs. Stim.

Giorgiadis JR et al (2006), European Journal of Neuroscience, 24, 3305-3316.
Positive correlations between
sexual arousal (perceived)
and rectal pressure with
regional blood flow PET-scan
measures.
Significant level in this figure is P < .001.
Superimposed on T1-weighted MR
standard single subject image from
SPM99.

Brunetti M et al (2008), European Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 2922-2927.

Brunetti M et al (2008),
European Journal of
Neuroscience, 27,
2922-2927.

Georgiadis JR, Kringelbach LM and Pfaus JG (2012) Nature Reviews Urology, 9, 486-498.

Stoleru S, Fonteille V, Cornélis CH, Joyal Ch and Moulier V (2012),
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 36, 1481-1509.

The erotic brain
Sexual Attractions
Desire, impulse
Sexual Orientation
Sexual pleasures
Clímax responses
Romantic Infatuation
Jealousies, Heartbreaks
Maternal/Paternal loves
Friendship attachments
Platonic devotions
Sentimental exploitations …
Mind/brain states subserved by
specific neuroendocrine (complex)
mechanisms
Social affiliation system:
imperfect monogamy, in
humans

EROTIC/ROMANTIC INFATUATION
Falling and being in love
- Intense attraction
- Neurogonadal urges
- Exaggerated Mood Oscillations (Euphoria/desperation)
- Perceptual/affective interpersonal fusion (folie a deux)
Function
Neuroendocrine Tempest to strengthen monogamous
binding (transient vs. long-lasting)

Intensity
1 2 3 4 Time (Years)
Love/sex kynetics: Passion (red); Loss Aversion (purple);
Affect/companionship (green)

Hormonal changes when falling in love
Marazitti D and Canale D (2004)
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29, 931-936.
Depts. of Psychiatry and Endocrinology, Pisa University, (Italy).

Hormonal changes when falling in love
Marazitti D and Canale D (2004)
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29, 931-936.
When subjectes were retested 12-24 months later no
differences remained!!!

Neurogonadal cascades: main stars
Desire/Sexual drive:
Testosterone, dihidrotestosterone, androstenodione, others…
Appeal/Atractiveness:
Dopamine, androstens, copulins...
Satisfaction, sexual pleasure:
Opioids, oxytocine…
Possession/Jealousy:
Vasopressine, serotonin…
Affection/attachment/companionship:
Oxytocine, prolactine, endozepines …
Memories of affective pleasures:
Glutamate, nitric oxide……
Love/Sex profiles dependent
on these different
neurohormonal systems.
Men/Women differences!!!

Prairie voles: a model for monogamous
fusion/affect
Ethology of pair bonding:
Lowell Getz, Sue Carter
and Carroll Horbaugh
Neurobiology of Affective
Attachments:
Larry Young and Thomas
Insel
Illinois University-Urbana/Champaign and
National Institutes of Mental Health,
Bethesda, Washington DC.

Prairie voles: ethology of monogamous fusion

OXYTOCIN RELEASE AND STIMULATION

Donaldson JR and Young L (2008), Science, 322, 900-904.

Pair bonding neurochemistry in
Prairie Voles
Partner preference test

A neurochemical map of pair-bonding
mechanisms in monogamous voles
From detailed neuroanatomy to transgenic/transpecies manipulations

Walum H et al (2008) PNAS, 105, 37, 14153-14157.
552 twin pairs and their spouses
(Swedish Registry), mostly white
middle class, born between
1944-1971. 82% married and 18%
cohabiting. 238 MZ.

Okhovat M, Berrio A, Wallace G, Ophir AG and Phelps SM (2015),
Science, 350, 6266, 1371-1374
25% pups from extrapair matings

The neural correlates of maternal and romantic love
Andreas Bartels and Semir Zeki
Neuroimage (2004), 21, 1155-1166
Procedure:
20 Mothers, 34 years age (27-40) provided photos of their own child (oc) or an
acquainted child (ac) same age (9months-6 years, mean 24 months).
Also provided photos of a best friend (all females: 36,9 years age, relationship time > 15
years)
fMRI sessions in a 2T Siemens equipment.
Subjects only had to view the photos and relax
Pictures presented on a screen, in pseudorandom order, against a gray background, in a
passport format.
Each picture presented 6 times for 15 sec.

Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
Neuroimage (2004), 21, 1155-1166.

Neuroimage (2004), 21, 1155-1166
Maternal love activations: viewing own child vs. acquaintance child same age

Neuroimage (2004), 21, 1155-1166
Contrasting maternal (n=19) versus romantic (n=17) women

Neuroimage (2004), 21, 1155-1166
Specific and Overlapping areas

Maternal and romantic love: Summary of fMRI ACTIVATION results
Bartels A and Zeki S (2004), Neuroimage, 21, 1155-1166
Specific of Maternal love:
PAG
Lat. Orbito-frontal cortex
Lat Fusiform gyrus
Frontal eye fields
Dorsal Occipital cortex Shared by both Maternal/Romantic Love:
Insula medial
Anterior Cingulate
Caudate, putamen
Specific of Romantic Love: Subthalamic nucleus
Hypothalamus G. Pallidum
Dentate gyrus Substantia Nigra
Ventral Tegmental Area

Neuroimage (2004), 21, 1155-1166
Same deactivated areas: maternal (oc-ac) and romantic (lover – friend)

Maternal and romantic love: fMRI DEACTIVATED areas
In both Maternal and Romantic Love:
Middle Prefrontal Cortex **
Parietal Cortex
Medial Temporal Cortex
Temporal Pole Thinking and warning systems
Posterior Cingulate *
Medial Precuneus
Amygdala **

Regions rich in
Oxytocin and
Vasopressin receptors:
fMRI activations
Maternal and romantic love

Acevedo BP, Aron A, Fisher HE and Brown LL, (2012) SCAN,7, 145-159.

Amadei EA et al (2017) Nature,

Neurogonadal love/sex cascades: main stars
Desire/Sexual drive:
Testosterone, dihidrotestosterone, androstenodione, others…
Appeal/Atractiveness:
Dopamine, androstens, copulins...
Satisfaction, sexual pleasure:
Opioids, oxytocine…
Possession/Jealousy:
Vasopressine, serotonin…
Affection/attachment/companionship:
Oxytocine, prolactine, endozepines…
Memories of affective pleasures:
Glutamate, nitric oxide…… Love/Sex profiles dependent
on these different
neurohormonal systems.
Individual differences in
motivation, pleasure,
preferences and intimate
affect!!!

El cerebro erótico: rutas neurales de amor y sexo
Barcelona: La Esfera de los Libros, 2006

El cervell eròtic

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