Abstract
Orgasm is one of the most intense pleasures attainable to an organism, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. On the basis of existing literatures, this article introduces a novel mechanistic model of sexual stimulation and orgasm. In doing so, it characterizes the neurophenomenology of sexual trance and climax, describes parallels in dynamics between orgasms and seizures, speculates on possible evolutionary origins of sex differences in orgasmic responding, and proposes avenues for future experimentation. Here, a model is introduced wherein sexual stimulation induces entrainment of coupling mechanical and neuronal oscillatory systems, thus creating synchronized functional networks within which multiple positive feedback processes intersect synergistically to contribute to sexual experience. These processes generate states of deepening sensory absorption and trance, potentially culminating in climax if critical thresholds are surpassed. The centrality of rhythmic stimulation (and its modulation by salience) for surpassing these thresholds suggests ways in which differential orgasmic responding between individuals—or with different partners—may serve as a mechanism for ensuring adaptive mate choice. Because the production of rhythmic stimulation combines honest indicators of fitness with cues relating to potential for investment, differential orgasmic response may serve to influence the probability of continued sexual encounters with specific mates.
Highlights
Orgasm is one of the most intense pleasures attainable to an organism, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood
Given that reproduction is the bottom line of evolutionary fitness, it is unsurprising that orgasm would be a source of intense pleasure (Pfaus et al, 2012; Tenk, Wilson, Zhang, Pitchers, & Coolen, 2009; Toates, 2014; Wunsch, 2010)
I introduce a model in which the rhythmic nature of sexual activity is central for understanding the phenomenology of sexual trance and orgasm
Summary
Orgasm is one of the most intense pleasures attainable to an organism, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Given the challenges described above, the ability to generate precise and flexible rhythmic patterns Á and to do so over an extended period of time Á could function as an honest indicator of organismic quality (Broek & Todd, 2009; Hugill et al, 2010; Neave et al, 2010; Roder et al, 2015).. Sexual climax may be a matter of triggering a switch in operating modes for specific pattern generating nuclei that originally evolved to control ejaculation in males (Truitt & Coolen, 2002) Such evolutionarily ancient adaptations could be sufficient for explaining many aspects of orgasm, rhythms may explain important response properties in more recently evolved structures, such as the neo-cortex. I propose that rhythms may be likely to affect cortical dynamics via entrainment of
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