Control of Sexual Behaviour Flashcards
Appetitive Behaviour
Behaviour aimed at finding and obtaining a sexual partner
External Stimuli
- External stimuli that adds inclination towards consummatory behaviour or appetitive behaviour
- Usually related to opposite-sex conspecifics
- Can be chemical stimuli we’re not consciously aware of (pheromones)
- Can also be learned and of different sensory modalities
Internal Motivation
- Hormones
- Brain mechanisms
Pheromone
- Species-typical molecules that trigger a specific response in another animal of the same species
- Detected by the vomeronasal organ
Vomeronasal Organ
The organ to detect pheromones in mammals
Olfactory Epithelium
The organ to detect pheromones in humans (and pigs?)
Androstadienone
- A steroid that is present in male semen and sweat
- Triggers alertness, good mood and sexual arousal in women (but poor mood in men)
Estratetraene
- A steroid that can be found in women’s urine
- Activates male, but not female hypothalamic areas
Medial Amygdala
Integrates stimuli and evaluates their sexual salience
Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Involved in stimulating sexual interest
Insula
Involved in stimulating sexual interest
Orbitofrontal Cortex
Involved in inhibiting sexual interest
Prefrontal Cortex
Involved in inhibiting sexual interest
Consummatory Behaviour
Behaviour of the actual sexual act
Excitement
- First stage of arousal
Orgasm
- Third stage of arousal
- Still packehed ouy bgans from year tthat yousked, Amout (AN)
Resolution or Satiety
- Fourth stage of arousal
- Active inhibition of semua sexual motivation
Plateau Phase
- Second stage of arousal
Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Preganglionic neurons
- Postganglionic neurons
Postganglionic Neurons
Acetylcholine (muscarinic receptors)
Preganglionic Neurons
Acetylcholine (nicotinic receptors)
Nicotinic Receptors
acetylcholine from the preganglionic neurons bind to this receptor; nicotine also binds to this receptor
Muscarinic Receptors
acetylcholine from the post-ganglionic neurons bind to this receptor; muscarine (toxins from mushrooms) also binds to this receptor
Nitric Oxide (NO)
- Signals the smooth muscle relaxation