Attraction, Sex and Love

Question 1

4 mediators of attraction, sex and love

Answer 1

1. Neurochemistry and physiology
2. Drugs mimicking/replacing love NTs
3. Aphrodisiacs/love potions/drugs to improve sex life
4. Drug-facilitated sexual assault and other illegal drugs

Question 2

3 evolutionary mating systems?

Answer 2

Lust : general sexual desire
Attraction : Focus on particular mate
Attachment : Instinct toward caretaking

Question 3

Hormones of lust? (2)

Answer 3

Tertosterone

Estradiol

Question 4

What are the “sexual effects” of ovulation? (3)

Answer 4

Voice is more attractive to others
The woman is more likely to wear revealing clothes, more likely to attend social gatherings
Overvalue physical attractiveness (short-term partners)

Question 5

What hormone makes a woman more likely to cheat on their partner?

Answer 5

High levels of estradiol

Question 6

A lack of testosterone increases what in men? (4)

What seems to help with that but causes adverse effects?

Answer 6

Aggressive behaviors
Risk taking
Energy levels
Libido

Estrogen treatments

Question 7

Sex hormones and their effects on straight and gay traits?

Answer 7

Having older brothers : 33% higher chance of being gay, maybe due to hormones influencing mother’s immune system

Question 8

Two factors that affect the neurobiology of attraction?

Answer 8

Sight : seeing beautiful person induces u-opioid receptors, our reward system
Olfaction : animals use sense of smell to interact, suggestions that humans do too

Question 9

Part of a goat’s body that processes pheromones? Do humans have this? what is suggested?

Answer 9

Vomeronasal organ

No, but men and women have differences in glands, secretions, microbial flora

Question 10

Steroid compound in men’s sweat that could be involved in pheromone processing and arousal? This seems to affect what? (4)

Answer 10

Progesterone derivative androstadienone

1. Endocrine levels
2. Physiological arousal
3. Context-dependent mood
4. Effects depending on sexual orientation

Question 11

Mood can be communicated via what?

Answer 11

Chemicals found in sweat

Question 12

Pheromones and mood:

There is a direct correlation between what? This affects mood by modulating affinity of ______

Answer 12

Axillary compounds and serotonin

Modulates affinity of the serotonin transporter

Question 13

Pheromones and mate compatibility : which antigen correlates partnership, sexuality and desire to procreate?

Answer 13

HLA : human leukocyte antigen

Question 14

HLA encodes for what gene and what type of protein?

Answer 14

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC).

Encodes cell-surface antigen-presenting proteins

Question 15

The limbic system includes what? (3)

Functions? (5)

Answer 15

Olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, amygdala

Emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, olfaction

Question 16

Initial giddiness, fast HR, etc… are due to what love chemicals? (3)

Answer 16

Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Phenylethylamine

Question 17

Attraction activates stress response, increases what two chemicals in the blood? What are three effects?
They produce what physiological effects?

Answer 17

Adrenaline
Cortisol
1. Sweat
2. Heart races
3. Mouth goes dry
-Elation, energy, sleeplessness, craving, loss of appetite, focused attention

Question 18

Phenylethylamine is a NT associated with what? Its release increases _____ and ______

Answer 18

Passion/attraction

Increases dopamine and norepinephrine

Question 19

PEA controls the transition from _____ to _____

It is chemically similar to?

Answer 19

Lust to love

Amphetamines

Question 20

PEA gets produced when….? (2)

Answer 20

1. Meet someone attractive

2. Eat food with PEA

Question 21

Dopamine is linked to…? (3)

It is similar to.. ?

Answer 21

Pleasure, reward, addiction

Amphetamines

Question 22

What is the cuddling and bonding chemical? It has roles in which behaviors? (5)

Answer 22

Oxytocin

Behaviors (orgasms, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, maternal behaviors)

Question 23

When do oxytocin levels rise?

Answer 23

Child-birth for mothers and new fathers

Question 24

Oxytocin promotes which main behavior?

Answer 24

ethnocentric behaviors, trusting, empathy for their group and rejection of outsiders

Question 25

Which chemical structure is similar to oxytocin?

Answer 25

Vasopressin

Question 26

What happens when you give a vasopressin receptor antagonist in prairie voles?

Answer 26

loss of devotion to each other

Question 27

Herbal drugs used to treat lovesickness or induce passion may induce some ___________ or ___________ activities, or on ______________ levels

Answer 27

dopaminergic adrenergic testosterone

Question 28

5 so-called aphrodisiacs? why?

Answer 28

Asparagus : vitamin E stimulates sex hormones Chili peppers : release endorphins Chocolate : PEA Oysters : zinc, increase testosterone and libido Spanish fly

Question 29

3 medications used for erectile dysfunction?

Answer 29

Viagra, Cialis, Levitra

Question 30

What typically happens in the regulation of blood flow in the penis? How do erectile dysfunction pills affect this?

Answer 30

- Typically, NO activates guanylyl cyclase, PDE 5 promotes degradation of cGMP (GTP to GPM) , cGMP protein kinase is activated and decreases Ca2+, myosin detaches from actin, smooth muscle relaxation - Pill inhibit PDE5, less relaxation of muscle

Question 31

Do erectile dysfunction pills increase libido? When should they be taken?

Answer 31

No | 1hr before sexual encounter

Question 32

Which has longer half-life : Viagra, Cialis or Levitra?

Answer 32

Cialis (17,5h) | Viagra/Levitra (4-5h)

Question 33

What chemical has been studies to improve arousal in females? MOA? Safe to use?

Answer 33

PT-141 or bremelanotide MOA : activates melanocortin receptors MC1R and MC4R in hypothalamus, nerve signal to penile tissue (corpus cavernosa), NO, cGMP degradation by PDE-5 (GTP to GMP), vasodilation and erection Not safe

Question 34

Difference between PT-141 and Viagra?

Answer 34

PT-141 doesnt act on vascular system, acts directly on nervous system

Question 35

3 inhibitors of PDE-5 in bremelanotide MOA?

Answer 35

Sildenafil Vardenafil Tadalafil

Question 36

"female viagra"? | Safe by FDA? side effects? (4)

Answer 36

Flibanserin : Addyi Not safe Dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, BP drop

Question 37

Flibanserin was initially what type of med? MOA?

Answer 37

Antidepressant (increase dopamine)

Question 38

4 recreational drugs that affect sex?

Answer 38

Cannabis Alcohol Cocaine Ecstacy

Question 39

+ and - of cannabis?

Answer 39

+relaxes muscles, higher sensitivity, reduce anxiety and stress -may make you anxious, lower testosterone and estrogen

Question 40

+ and - of alcohol?

Answer 40

+social lubricant | -erectile dysfunction

Question 41

+ and - of cocaine?

Answer 41

+arousal, sex drive and focus increase | -erectile dysfunction, paranoia, can't relax/fall asleep, low sperm count

Question 42

+ and - of ecstacy?

Answer 42

+arousal, intense pleasure | -inhibits orgasm, decreases lubrication

Question 43

Short term effects of ecstacy?

Answer 43

release of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. More oxytocin and vasopressin

Question 44

Long-term effects of ecstacy?

Answer 44

depression of NTs (particularly serotonin)

Question 45

Dangerous effects of ecstacy?

Answer 45

increase body temp/dehydration if dancing a lot, increase need to urinate, teeth grinding

Question 46

6 drugs that can be mixed with ecstacy?

Answer 46

``` caffeine ephedrine metamphetamine LSD PCP ketamine ```

Question 47

Date rape drugs? (2)

Answer 47

Rohypnol, Roofies (flunitrazepam) | GHB : gamma hydroxybutyric

Question 48

Effects of roofies? (6) | How long does sedation take? how long does it last?

Answer 48

10x stronger tranquilizer than diazepam Sedative effect, amnesia, muscle relaxation, slowing of psychomotor responses, feeling drunk 20-30min, several hours

Question 49

What happens when roofies are mixed with alcohol and other drugs? (4)

Answer 49

Unconsciousness Slow HR Suppressed breathing Death

Question 50

Is GHB a natural substance in the body? | It mimics the action of ______

Answer 50

Yes | GABA

Question 51

GHB used for what? (5)

Answer 51

General anesthetic | Insomnia, depression, narcolepsy, alcoholism, improve athletic performance

Question 52

4 effects of GHB? | At higher doses? (8)

Answer 52

Euphoria Disinhibition Enhanced sensuality and empathogenic states High doses : nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, visual disturbances, depressed breathing, amnesia, unconsciousness, death

Question 53

Effects of GHB last how long?

Answer 53

1,5-3h

Question 54

What is the pleasure chemical?

Answer 54

dopamine

Question 55

Which areas of the brain with dopamine have heightened activity when seeing a significant other

Answer 55

Frontal lobe | Caudate area

Question 56

What is the monogamy chemical?

Answer 56

Vasopressin