Relationship between male sexual arousal and vividness of imagery in different sensory modalities

Abstract

Penile circumference and subjective sexual arousal were recorded while 66 men attempted to achieve erection by engaging in fantasy, as well as while the same men viewed an erotic film. Physiological and subjective arousal levels induced by fantasy, but not by the film, correlated significantly with the total scores of subjects on the Betts Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery Scale. The rated erotic value of specific sexual fantasy themes, as well as the frequency of use of different themes when men attempted to achieve voluntary enhancement of erection, also correlated significantly with the degree to which subjects reported being able to form vivid images. However, there was limited evidence that either the erotic potency of particular categories of sexual fantasy (e.g., sensual, genital, dominance-submissive) or the frequency with which themes in different categories were used in an attempt to become sexually aroused is highly related to the capacity of men to form images more vividly in some rather than other sensory modalities.