The document discusses the neuroscience of sexual functioning and the brain regions involved. It notes that sexual desire and arousal are modulated by sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen and mediated by regions like the amygdala, ventral striatum, and orbitofrontal cortex. Emotions also influence cognition and various brain areas are implicated in processing emotions. Conditions like erectile dysfunction, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and premature ejaculation can be treated with cognitive behavioral psychotherapy which aims to change faulty perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors associated with sexual difficulties.

1. The Neuroscience of Sexual
Functioning

2. Sex and the Brain
What parts are involved?
Table of Contents
1. Neuroscientific Context
1.1 Testosterone and Oestrogen
1.2 Amygdala
1.3 Ventral striatum
1.4 Orbitofrontal Cortex
1.5 Vagus Nerve
1.6 Disorders
2. Analysis of Quality

3. Sex is primarily the process of
combining male and female genes to
form offspring, however over the past
billion years complex systems of behaviour
(and the motivation and reward circuits that
root such behaviours) have evolved around
this process and no where is this complexity
more elaborately represented than in the
human brain. At some point in their life,
everyone will engage in sexual behaviour or at
least experiencesexual desire.

4. Ultimately the brain is the largest sex
organ controlling the biological urge,
mediating all thoughts, experiences
and physiological responses to sex,

5. Neuro-scientific Context
Sexual desire is defined as (1)the
behavioural drive that motivates
individuals to fantasize about or
seek out sexual activity. In contrast,
sexual arousal is defined as the (2)
autonomic physiological processes
that prepare the body for sexual
activity

6. Multiple locations in the Brain
Limbic Level Activity
The ‘Will’ has as much control
over sex as it is over
breathing, digestion like
involuntary actions.
Is it why “I wont masturbate”
does not last long?

7. Sexual desire is initially
modulated by the release of
sex hormones, for males
testosterone and for
females oestrogen, our
levels of these hormones
are understood to affect our
behaviour

8. • Orbital Frontal
Damage can
induce abnormal
sexual preferences
• Similar effect can
be seen among
people who are
exposed to
abnormal sexual
activities: internet

9. Amygdala
Largely mediated by
emotion through the
limbic system, activation
of the amygdala can
trigger penile erection,
sexual feelings,
sensations of extreme
pleasure memories of
sexual intercourse as well
as ovulation, uterine
contractions, and orgasm.

10. Ventral striatum
using Positron Emission
Tomography measured cBF in
males during orgasm and found
"primary activation was found in
the mesodiencephalic transition
zone, including the ventral
tegmental area......Parallels are
drawn between ejaculation and
heroin rush."

11. Orbitofrontal cortex shown in red
In terms of sexual desire, the OFC
is thought to mediate reward and
punishment and personal
assessment, however. This relates
to mate selection to whether an
individual is perceived as desirable
Evidence through studies into
facial attractiveness and those
involving males presented with a
sexually attractive visual stimuli
both support the OFC involvement
in this role

12. Sex and the Brain
• Damage to
Dorsolateral
prefrontal cortex
can reduce sexual
drive in a person
• Similar effect can
be experienced
due to depression,
anxiety, stress,
medications like
antidepressants

13. Sex and the Brain
• Temporal lobe
lesions can lead to
hyper-sexuality and
abnormal sexual
experiences

14. Emotions influence cognition
(Brain Functioning)
• Happiness
• Joy
• Satisfaction
• Excitement
• Love
• Security
• Depression
• Sadness
• Self Criticism
• Low mood
• Gloomy
• Anxiety

15. Brain, Sex and Emotions
• Emotions involve
multiple areas of the
brain:
• Amygdala
• Hippocampus
• Thalamus
• Hypothalamus
• Cingulate gyrus

16. Emotions are Influenced by:
• Perception
• Thoughts
• Beliefs
• Perspective of early experiences
• Emotional triggers - PTSD

17. Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapy
CBT is a corrective procedure of
perceptions, beliefs, thoughts,
emotional processes and behaviour.
Perceiving partner as unattractive
could be due to a reference to ex or
actress.
Girls should be submissive in bed
belief could put off a person in bed.

18. Cognitive Behaviour
Psychotherapy
• Anxiety: Early failures in sexual
experiences can affect erection and
performance leading to avoidance.
• Faulty conditioning: Having sex in a tense
atmosphere: sex with neighbour’s wife,
sex at terrace, public places – tranquility
of closed room atmosphere might not
trigger sexuality.

19. Inner Conflicts
• Conscious vs. the Sub
Conscious Mind
• Not feeling like
but trying
• Risk of being caught
having premature
ejaculation
Conscious
mind
Subconscious
mind

20. Erectile Dysfunction
• Inability to achieve and maintain erection
to complete the cycle of Intercourse.
• Erection for a male is directly linked to self
Image and Pride: leading to enormous
anxiety.
• Anxiety producing thoughts and Anxiety
emotion shifts focus from sexuality to fear
of performance thereby destroying
erection.

21. Cognitive Behaviour
Psychotherapy
Graded Exposure
• Petting
• Foreplay without genital
• Foreplay with genital
• Oral stimulation = stop
start approach
• Caressing towards
orgasm but not
intercourse
IC
Pre
Intercourse
Stage
Graded Exposure
Thoughts / Beliefs /
Attitude
Rapport

22. HSDD: Hypoactive Sexual Desire
Disorder in Women
• Could have been caused by premature
ejaculation in their man.
• Erectile dysfunction in their man
• Poor understanding of sexual preferences
and sexual performances.
• Marital problems
• Dysfunctional Beliefs about sexuality

23. CBT for HSDD
• Balance Sheet of Advantages and
Disadvantages of Dysfunctional Beliefs
• Removing the faulty belief
• Removing the mid life crisis in relationship
• Reduce the sexual promiscuity among
male due to sexual deprivation.

24. Conclusion:
• Psychotherapy has been reported to be
effective form of psychological therapy for
sexual disorders as it systematically
focuses on perception, thoughts, beliefs
and behaviour of a person.

25. Thank You
Harold Caramat