Assessment of genital arousal Sexual arousal




1 assessment of genital arousal

1.1 experimental studies
1.2 females
1.3 males





assessment of genital arousal

one way study sexual arousal in women , men conduct sexual psychophysiological research in laboratory setting. field of research looks @ physical sexual responses in addition mental , emotional experiences of sexual arousal.


experimental studies

various hypotheses , theories have been propounded in order establish biological bases sexual arousal in humans. ivan tarkhanov showed, in experiments on cutting , artificial emptying of seminal vesicles, latter played crucial role in generation of sexual excitement in frogs. proceeding these experimental results, tarkhanov put forward hypothesis filling , evacuation of seminal vesicles main biological cause led sexual arousal , disappearance in mammals , humans. ever since tarkhanov’s findings demonstrated sexual arousal in frogs result state of seminal vesicles, attempted elucidation of role in other animals sexual behaviour has been object of experimental effort. no generalisation has yet appeared, however. study performed beach & wilson (university of california, berkeley) in 1964 discovered these glands not participate in regulation of sexual arousal of male rats in similar manner. whether regularity observed in frogs applicable humans remains unknown. unambiguous experimental evidence existence of tarkhanov regularity in human sexual behaviour has never been obtained.


another explanation of sexual arousal offered approach kazimierz imieliński calls psychohydraulic model of sexuality. point of view likens human sexuality steam boiler, biological processes or internal irritants creating sexual tension. if level of tension reaches threshold, sexual arousal occurs expression of necessity let off steam. gary f. kelly (clarkson university) describes model follows:



for centuries, assumption made longing sexual interaction innate, , inner drive model used explain it. has been suggested model metaphor steam boiler. internal sexual “steam” build until pressure became great drive release strong. view assumed there adverse physical consequence of not releasing pressure.



the psychohydraulic model of sexuality has been formulated in psychoanalysis:



the instinct causes tensions within central nervous system spread out on whole being; urgent , irresistible in nature , repeats itself. ... erection, example, pleasurable , painful @ same time. increase of sexual excitation, tension increases , becomes wholly unpleasurable. condition becomes unbearable individual forced seek release these tensions , liberation painful feelings. ... pain of tension accompanies increase in intensity of instinctual drives changes, discharge, pleasure of relaxation.



after time, same process begins anew. such approach assumes sexual arousal spontaneous desire appears periodically sensations of hunger , thirst. drawing parallel between these sensations , sexual excitation accepted now: must experience sexuality in way survive. ... in sense sex necessity of life, air, food, , warmth. , yet there no empirical evidence in support of such parallel, imieliński says. sensations of hunger , thirst occur due states of physiological insufficiency. feeling of hunger results lack of glucose, fats , amino acids in blood. feeling of thirst occurs in response reduction of water content of tissues. none of similar states of physiological deficiency responsible periodical appearance of sexual arousal has been revealed in human sexuality.


females

sexual arousal in women characterized vasocongestion of genital tissues, including internal , external areas (e.g., vaginal walls, clitoris, , labia). there variety of methods used assess genital sexual arousal in women. vaginal photoplethysmography (vpg) can measure changes in vaginal blood volume or phasic changes in vasocongestion associated each heartbeat. clitoral photoplethysmography functions in similar way vpg, measures changes in clitoral blood volume, rather vaginal vasocongestion. thermography provides direct measure of genital sexual arousal measuring changes in temperature associated increased blood flow external genital tissues. similarly, labial thermistor clips measure changes in temperature associated genital engorgement; method directly measures changes in temperature of labia. more recently, laser doppler imaging (ldi) has been used direct measure of genital sexual arousal in women. ldi functions measuring superficial changes in blood flow in vulvar tissues.


males

the obvious response involved sexual behaviour in males penile erection. use of volume (or circumference) change during penile erection convenient measure of sexual arousal first developed kurt freund. measurement of blood flow male genitals known penile plethysmography. commonly measured using strain gauge, simple mercury strain gauge encompassed in ring of rubber. ring surrounds penis, not constrict or cause discomfort. measure has been found reliable , valid measurement of male arousal. more recently, thermography has been developed measure physiological measurements of sexual arousal. studies have found temperature change specific genitals during sexual arousal, supports validity of measure.








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