Arousal Mean Research Articles

What Does Sexual Arousal Mean to You? Women With and Without Sexual Arousal Concerns Describe Their Experiences

Sexual arousal is frequently characterized by both subjective (i.e., mental) and physiological (e.g., genital) components. The nuances of these components, however, are difficult to capture via self-report instruments. Asking women to describe sexual arousal in their own words may therefore enhance our understanding of this construct. In the present study, women with (n = 190) and without (n = 610) arousal concerns were recruited online and wrote about their experience of sexual arousal. Seven clusters of words were extracted using automated text analysis, and the prominence of these clusters was compared between groups of women. The autonomic arousal cluster differed between groups such that women with arousal concerns invoked this cluster significantly less than did women with no such concerns. Furthermore, the context cluster significantly predicted group membership (odds ratio [OR] = 1.063); greater scores on this cluster were associated with arousal concerns. Results suggest that autonomic arousal and relationship factors may play important roles in arousal concerns. It is suggested that clinicians assess for aspects of the sexual relationship that may facilitate or hinder sexual arousal. Clinicians may also consider inquiring about the presence or appraisal of autonomic arousal (e.g., one’s interpretation of an increase in heart rate or respiration) during sexual activity.

Between the Screens: Brain Imaging, Pornography, and Sex Research

This essay focuses on the use of brain imaging technologies to understand sexual arousal and orgasm and the issues that this practice raises for feminist theories of embodiment, visuality, and gender. In the first section, the paper examines the use of brain imaging technologies to measure the brain’s role during sexual arousal and orgasm and its circulation in popular culture, with a particular focus on fMRI and PET technology. The second section examines the interplay between brain imaging technologies as the means of measurement and film pornography as the means of arousal, bringing together scholarship on pornography studies, visual studies, and science and technology studies. By interrogating the technology behind research into the neurology of sexual response and critically examining the use of one representation of sexuality to produce another, the paper investigates how gendered difference is manifested in this research and how the body is produced as a site of intervention.

Between the Screens: Brain Imaging, Pornography, and Sex Research

This essay focuses on the use of brain imaging technologies to understand sexual arousal and orgasm and the issues that this practice raises for feminist theories of embodiment, visuality, and gender. In the first section, the paper examines the use of brain imaging technologies to measure the brain’s role during sexual arousal and orgasm and its circulation in popular culture, with a particular focus on fMRI and PET technology. The second section examines the interplay between brain imaging technologies as the means of measurement and film pornography as the means of arousal, bringing together scholarship on pornography studies, visual studies, and science and technology studies. By interrogating the technology behind research into the neurology of sexual response and critically examining the use of one representation of sexuality to produce another, the paper investigates how gendered difference is manifested in this research and how the body is produced as a site of intervention.

Accidental Death Due to Autoerotic Asphyxia Coupled With Fetishistic Transvestism

Fetishistic transvestism is a disorder of sexual perversion associated with fantasies and sexual urges to dress in opposite gender clothing as a means of arousal and adjunct to masturbation and coitus. However, transvestism has been described in schizophrenia and psychosis and fetishism in the course of simple schizophrenia. Our reported case is a 26 year-old male found hanging in transvestite attire wearing blouse and petticoat. There was no psychiatric background and no known previous suicidal behavior of the deceased. The manner of death was finally considered to be an accident. The cause of the death was accidental hanging provoked by fatal autoerotic asphyxia.

Accidental Death Due to Autoerotic Asphyxia Coupled With Fetishistic Transvestism

Fetishistic transvestism is a disorder of sexual perversion associated with fantasies and sexual urges to dress in opposite gender clothing as a means of arousal and adjunct to masturbation and coitus. However, transvestism has been described in schizophrenia and psychosis and fetishism in the course of simple schizophrenia. Our reported case is a 26 year-old male found hanging in transvestite attire wearing blouse and petticoat. There was no psychiatric background and no known previous suicidal behavior of the deceased. The manner of death was finally considered to be an accident. The cause of the death was accidental hanging provoked by fatal autoerotic asphyxia.

Adopting a music-to-heart rate alignment strategy to measure the impact of music and its tempo on human heart rate

Music is frequently used as a means of relaxation. Conversely, it is used as a means of arousal in sports and exercise contexts. Previous research suggests that tempo is one of the most significant determinants of music-related arousal and relaxation effects. Here we investigate the specific effect of music tempo, but also more generally, the influence of music on human heart rate. We took the pulses of 32 participants in silence, and then we played them non-vocal, ambient music at a tempo corresponding to their heart rates. Finally, we played the same music again, either with the tempo increased or decreased by a factor of 45%, 30%, or 15%; or maintaining the same tempo as in the first playing. Mixed-design ANOVA tests revealed a significant increase in heart rate while listening to the music as compared with silence ( p < .05). In addition, substantial decreases in tempo (-45% or -30%) could account for smaller subsequent heart rate reductions ( p < .05). We neither found links between increases in tempo (+15%, +30%, and +45%) and heart rate change, nor small decreases (-15%). In addition, neither effects of gender, music training, nor of musical preference were found. This indicates that during passive music listening, music exerts a general arousal effect on human heart rate, which might be regulated by tempo. These results are a major contribution to the way in which music may be used in everyday activities.

Abstract P4-11-04: Program evaluation of a female sexual medicine and women's health program

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of simple sexual/vaginal health treatment strategies in breast cancer patients/survivors seeking treatment at a female sexual medicine program, and to evaluate compliance and clinical outcomes. Methods: Demographics, medical information, and clinical assessments from 94 new visits with at least 1 follow-up from 09/12–10/14 were analyzed. The assessment form consists of a clinician evaluation with the Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS) and Vulvar Assessment Scale (VuAS), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including the Sexual Activity Questionnaire (SAQ), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and exploratory items. Compliance with treatment recommendations at the last visit were summarized. Changes from the first to last visit were compared with regard to clinical outcomes (e.g., vaginal pH, moisture), the VAS and VuAS, and the PROs (FSFI, SAQ, and confidence about future sexual activity). Results: The mean number of visits was 3 (range, 2-7). Mean age was 55.2 years (range, 29-48), 67% (n=63) were married or in an intimate relationship, and 94% (n=88) were menopausal. Seventy-seven percent (n=72) were on some form of active treatment, such as endocrine therapy (89%, 64/72). Only 15% (11/72) reported any hormonal supplementation (e.g., Vagifem). Treatment strategies included the use of vaginal moisturizers, lubricants with sexual activity, pelvic floor exercises, and dilator therapy. At last visit, 94% (80/85) of the women had complied with the clinical recommendation to moisturize 2 to 5+ times per week. Vaginal pH scores >6.5 declined from 31% (29/93) at Visit 1 to 20% (19/93) at the last visit (p=0.049). Vaginal (VAS) symptoms improved from the first to last visit (mean 1.2 to 0.59, p<0.001) as did the Vulvar (VuAS) symptoms (mean 0.78 to 0.57, p=0.007). Only 17% (15/19) had normal vaginal moisture at Visit 1, compared to 29% (26/90) at the last visit (p=0.04). Sixty-seven percent (59/88) reported performing pelvic floor exercises a few times per week to daily at their last visit. FSFI arousal mean scores improved from the first (mean=2.30) to last visit (mean=2.93) (p=0.003), and urinary incontinence rates declined from the first (58%, 32/55) to last visit (24%, 13/55). At Visit 1, 51% (43/85) of the women reported current sexual activity with a partner, and sexual activity rates increased over time—61% at last visit (52/85, p=0.049). FSFI total scores significantly improved from the first (mean=12.91) to last visit (mean=17.44) (p<0.001). Confidence about future sexual activity increased from 43% (34/79) at Visit 1 to 67% (53/79) at the last visit (p<0.001). Concerns about sexual/vaginal health (scale of 0-10) decreased over time, with 54% (43/80) rating their concern at 9 or 10 at the first visit and 28% (22/80) at the last visit (p<0.001). Conclusions: Breast cancer patients/survivors attending our female sexual medicine program reported improvement of vaginal and vulvar symptoms, sexual function and activity, and had clinical improvement over time on vaginal pH and moisture. Preliminary findings suggest that simple strategies, education, and support can improve vaginal/sexual health concerns in cancer survivorship. Citation Format: Carter J, Seidel B, Stabile C, Baser R, Eaton A, Goldfarb S, Goldfrank D. Program evaluation of a female sexual medicine and women's health program. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-11-04.

Fetishistic Transvestism in a Patient with Mental Retardation and Psychosis

Fetishistic transvestism is a disorder of sexual preference associated with fantasies and sexual urges to dress in opposite gender clothing as a means of arousal and as an adjunct to masturbation and coitus. The disorder has been reported in people with learning disabilities. The disorder has been reported in a young male with dull normal intelligence. Transvestism though has been described in schizophrenia and psychosis and fetishism has been described in the course of simple schizophrenia, there are no reports of fetishistic transvestism in a patient with mental retardation and psychosis. A case of fetishistic transvestism in a patient with mental retardation and psychosis with treatment and relevant review of literature is reported.

Biosignal measures of female sexual interest: their feasibility in a forensic context

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the status of biosignal measures of female sexual arousal with a view to examining the feasibility of such procedures in a forensic context. Although adult women represent the minority of sexual offenders, female perpetrated sexual abuse has been gaining increasing attention in the forensic psychological literature as criminal justice is confronted with female offending populations to a greater extent than previously recognised. Design/methodology/approach – Psychological assessments of sex offenders have tended to be over-dependent on the use of self-report measures (i.e. an individual's appraisal and report of their emotional state of sexual arousal). There is a dearth of empirical knowledge concerning the psychophysiological assessment of female sexual interest in general and especially so for female sex offenders. Physiological measures are those that rely on directly observable physiological responses of the individual in order to identify patterns of sexual interest or arousal. Findings – Because deviant sexual interest (in children or the use of violence) as assessed by penile plethysmography, has been established as one of the strongest predictors of recidivism in male sex offenders (and as a viable alternative to self-report methodologies), an analogue measurement approach for female sex offenders is desirable. This paper considers: first, theoretical problems (e.g. what does female physiological arousal mean in terms of sexual arousal/desire?; second, technical measurement problems (e.g. reactivity of the measure in within subject designs); and third, procedural/ethical problems (e.g. invasiveness of the application). Originality/value – While a number of physiological assessment devices are considered in this paper, the paper discusses the labial photoplethysmograph as a promising method for female sexual offender populations.