scholarly journals Visual Attention and Sexual Function in Women

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Milani ◽  
Samantha J. Dawson ◽  
Julia Velten
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Attentional Processing ◽  
Sexual Stimuli

Abstract Purpose of Review Theoretical models situate attention as integral to the onset and regulation of sexual response and propose that problems with sexual response and subsequent sexual dysfunction result from insufficient attentional processing of sexual stimuli. The goal of this paper is to review literature examining the link between attentional processing of sexual stimuli and sexual function in women. Specifically, we sought to understand whether women with and without sexual dysfunction differ in their visual attention to sexual stimuli and examined the link with sexual response, which would support attention as a mechanism underlying sexual dysfunction. Recent Findings Across women with and without sexual concerns, sexual stimuli are preferentially attended to relative to nonsexual stimuli, suggesting that sexual stimuli are more salient than nonsexual stimuli. Differences between women with and without sexual dysfunction emerge when examining visual attention toward the most salient features of sexual stimuli (e.g., genital regions depicting sexual activity). Consistent with theoretical models, visual attention and sexual response are related, such that increasing attention to sexual cues facilitates sexual arousal, whereas reduced attention to sexual stimuli appears to suppress sexual arousal, which may contribute to sexual difficulties in women. Summary Taken together, the research supports the role of visual attention in sexual response and sexual function. These findings provide empirical support for interventions that target attentional processing of sexual stimuli. Future research is required to further delineate the specific attentional mechanisms involved in sexual response and investigate whether these are modifiable. This knowledge may be beneficial for developing novel psychological interventions targeting attentional processes in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions.

scholarly journals Visual attention and sexual arousal in women with and without sexual dysfunction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Velten ◽  
Sonia Milani ◽  
Jürgen Margraf ◽  
Lori Anne Brotto
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Sexual Functioning ◽  
Fixation Duration ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Genital Area ◽  
Total Fixation

Attending to sexual stimuli is an important means to facilitate sexual arousal and is thereby relevant for healthy sexual functioning. Studies suggest that sexual dysfunction is associated with less attention towards sexual stimuli. The goal of this study was to use an eye-tracking-based free-viewing paradigm to investigate whether women with sexual dysfunction visually attend to the genital area in dynamic sexual stimuli (i.e., erotic videos) differently than women with subclinical sexual function or those with normal sexual functioning. A total of 69 women (Mage = 27.77, SD = 8.00) with clinical (n = 30), subclinical (n = 23), and normal (n = 16) levels of sexual functioning watched four 1-min video clips depicting heterosexual couples engaging in vaginal intercourse or cunnilingus while the total fixation duration on the genital area as well as their subjective and genital sexual arousal were recorded. As hypothesized, the clinical group fixated on the genital area less than women with normal sexual functioning. A longer total fixation duration on the genital area was followed by increases in subjective arousal and genital arousal. The relationship between attention and arousal was not moderated by sexual functioning group. This study provides first evidence of the role of sustained visual attention for facilitating sexual arousal in women with and without sexual dysfunction.

Intrasexual Competition and Sexual Response in Androphilic Women

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Cornett
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Intrasexual Competition ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Information Processing Model ◽  
Sexual Stimuli

Androphilic (sexually attracted to men) women demonstrate genital and self-reported arousal to sexual stimuli of both their preferred and non-preferred genders - a “gender-nonspecific” sexual response (e.g., Chivers et al, 2007). One hypothesis for female non-specific arousal patterns is intrasexual competition (the rivalry among the same sex for mates). Previously intrasexual competition has been operationalized as the level of jealousy a woman feels towards another woman. Intrasexual competition has been found to increase attentional adhesion to same sex stimuli (Maner, Gilliot & Roudy, 2007) The Information Processing Model (IPM; Janssen et al, 2000) posits that visual attention to sexual cues may result in a sexual response. Longer viewing times to same sex stimuli motivated by intrasexual competition (Maner et al., 2007) could therefore lead to an increase in self-reported arousal to non-preferred stimuli. This study explores the relationship between traits associated with intrasexual competition and sexual responding (visual attention and self-reported sexual arousal). Androphilic women are exposed to sexual stimuli varying by gender (preferred, non-preferred) and physical attractiveness level (attractive, unattractive). Visual attention is measured using an eye tracker and sexual arousal is assessed by participant self-report.  Intrasexual competition is operationalized through measures of self-reported jealousy, anger, indirect aggression, and body image. I predict the participants will exhibit greater intrasexual competition after viewing images of attractive women compared to images of unattractive women and men. I also explore visual attention as a mediator between intrasexual competition and self-reported sexual arousal.  Data collection for this project is currently underway. Chivers, M. L., Seto, M. C., & Blanchard, R. (2007). Gender and sexual orientation differences in sexual response to sexual activities versus gender of actors in sexual films. Journal of personality and social psychology, 93(6), 1108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.93.6.1108 Janssen, E., Everaerd, W., Spiering, M., & Janssen, J. (2000). Automatic processes and the appraisal of sexual stimuli: Toward an information processing model of sexual arousal. Journal of Sex Research, 37(1), 8–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490009552016 Maner, J. K., Gailliot, M. T., Rouby, A., & Miller, S. (2007). Can’t Take My Eyes Off You: Attentional Adhesion to Mates and Rivals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(3), 389–401. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.93.3.389

Gender-specific genital and subjective sexual arousal to prepotent sexual stimuli in androphilic men and gynephilic women

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210004
Author(s):  
Nina Micanovic ◽  
Amanda D. Timmers ◽  
Meredith L. Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Sex Characteristics ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Subjective Sexual Arousal ◽  
Gender Specific

Marked differences have been found in men’s and women’s sexual response patterns, contingent upon their sexual orientation; androphilic (attracted to men) and gynephilic (attracted to women) men demonstrate greatest genital and self-reported arousal to their preferred stimulus type (a “gender-specific” response), whereas androphilic women do not, and findings for gynephilic women have been mixed. While there have been many investigations into gynephilic men’s and androphilic women’s (i.e., heterosexual men/women) sexual response, there has been less investigation into the specificity of sexual response of androphilic men and gynephilic women. Given the complex nature of sexual stimuli that are used in sexual response research, it is often unclear to what extent contextual cues (e.g., cues other than the sexual actor’s primary and secondary sex characteristics, such as physical attractiveness, sexual activity, etc.) influence participants’ sexual response patterns. As such, the current study examined genital, discrete self-reported, and continuous self-reported responses of androphilic men ( n = 22) and gynephilic women ( n = 10) to prepotent sexual features (stimuli thought to elicit automatic sexual arousal: erect penises and exposed vulvas), non-prepotent sexual features (flaccid penises and pubic triangles) and neutral stimuli (clothed men and women). Both samples exhibited a gender-specific pattern of genital, self-reported, and continuous self-reported sexual arousal. Similarly, all measures of sexual arousal were generally found to be greatest to “prepotent” sexual cues. Implications for understanding gender specificity of sexual response are discussed.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational and Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling on Female Sexual Dysfunction

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (06) ◽  
pp. 333-339
Author(s):  
Firoozeh Mirzaee ◽  
Atefeh Ahmadi ◽  
Zahra Zangiabadi ◽  
Moghaddameh Mirzaee
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Female Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Female Sexual Function ◽  
Behavioral Counseling

Abstract Introduction Sexual function is a multidimensional phenomenon that is affected by many biological and psychological factors. Cognitive-behavioral sex therapies are among the most common nonpharmacological approaches to psychosexual problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral counseling on female sexual dysfunction. Methods The present study was a clinical trial with intervention and control groups. The study population consisted of women referring to the general clinic of a governmental hospital in Iran. After completing the demographic questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), those who obtained the cutoff score ≤ 28 were contacted and invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling method was used and 35 subjects were randomly allocated for each group. Eight counseling sessions were held for the intervention group (two/week/1.5 hour). Post-test was taken from both groups after 1 month, and the results were statistically analyzed by PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results The total mean scores of FSFI and the subscales of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention. In addition, postintervention pain mean scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of the present study indicate that psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling is effective in improving female sexual function. It is recommended to compare the effects of psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling on sexual dysfunctions of couples and with a larger sample size in future research.

scholarly journals Visual attention and sexual arousal in women with and without sexual dysfunction

2021 ◽  
pp. 103915
Author(s):  
Julia Velten ◽  
Sonia Milani ◽  
Jürgen Margraf ◽  
Lori A. Brotto
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Sexual Arousal

scholarly journals Does the Physical Therapy Intervention Improve Female Sexual Dysfunction in Saudi Society?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Pelvic Floor ◽  
Muscle Power ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Sexual Response Cycle ◽  
Therapy Intervention ◽  
Physical Therapy Intervention

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction refers to a problem occurring during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity. The sexual response cycle traditionally includes excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Desire and arousal are both part of the excitement phase of the sexual response. The literature review confirmed that the sexual dysfunction is common, 43 % of women and 31 % of men report some degree of difficulty, it is a topic that many people are hesitant to discuss. But the treatment options are available [1]. The literature also supports the use of pelvic floor exercise in order to improve sexual function. The health concept for women magazine reported that the Neo-control magnetic chair improved the sexual dysfunctions in women specially the orgasm problems [2]. Objective: The objective of the study is to explore the role of the physical therapy intervention for the female sexual dysfunction in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Thirty women had sexual dysfunction, were evaluated by muscle power (Oxford scale) before and after the treatment, and FSFI questioners were answered before and after the completion of the treatment. Main Outcome Measures: The domain scores of the female sexual function index (FSFI), included desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, were calculated. The supervised pelvic floor muscle training, core strengthening pelvic exercises were conducted for 30 minutes, and magnetic field “neocontrol chair” frequency 50HZ, 15 sec. on, 1 sec. off for 20 min. power 75-80%, twice a week for six weeks(12 sesssions). Muscle power (Oxford scale) was measured before and after the treatment. Results: All subjects successfully completed the study with no adverse events significant improvement in sexual function as assessed by the FSFI, sex desire improved by 80%, sexual arousal improved by 86%, lubrication and orgasm improved by 80%, general satisfaction 87%, 73% pain free through intercourse. Muscle power were improved from 1-2 out of 5 to 3+ out of 5. Conclusion: The physical therapy intervention which include pelvic floor exercise, core strengthening exercise and magnetic field had improved the sexual function in female Saudi society.

scholarly journals The evolution of the female sexual response concept: Treatment implications

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 268-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Damjanovic ◽  
Dragana Duisin ◽  
Jasmina Barisic
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Sexual Disorders ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
Circular Model ◽  
Sexual Distress ◽  
Female Sexual Response ◽  
The Relationship

Sexual dysfunctions have been the most prevalent group of sexual disorders and include a large number of populations of both sexes. The research of sexual behavior and treatment of women with sexual distress arises many questions related to differences in sexual response of men and women. The conceptualization of this response in modern sexology has changed over time. The objective of our paper was to present the changes and evolution of the female?s sexual response concept in a summarized and integrated way, to analyze the expanded and revised definitions of the female sexual response as well as implications and recommendations of new approaches to diagnostics and treatment according to the established changes. The lack of adequate empirical basis of the female sexual response model is a critical question in the literature dealing with this issue. Some articles report that linear models demonstrate more correctly and precisely the sexual response of women with normal sexual functions in relation to women with sexual dysfunction. Modification of this model later resulted in a circular model which more adequately presented the sexual response of women with sexual function disorder than of women with normal sexual function. The nonlinear model of female sexual response constructed by Basson incorporates the value of emotional intimacy, sexual stimulus and satisfaction with the relationship. Female functioning is significantly affected by multiple psychosocial factors such as satisfaction with the relationship, self-image, earlier negative sexual experience, etc. Newly revised, expanded definitions of female sexual dysfunction try to contribute to new knowledge about a highly contextual nature of woman?s sexuality so as to enhance clinical treatment of dysfunctions. The definitions emphasize the evaluation of the context of women?s problematic sexual experiences.

18. Sexual Self-Schemas and Neural Processing of Sexual Information in Women

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Nanos
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Neural Processing ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Sexual Information ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Will Self

Previous research suggests that humans respond differently to reproductively-relevant information in the environment, including heightened neural responses to sexual versus non-sexual cues. Limited research, however, has examined individual variation in the early neural processing of sexual information. Sexual self-schemas, or one’s views of themselves as a sexual person, provide a stable cognitive framework for processing sexually-relevant information, and may relate to women’s sexual responses. This study seeks to examine how women’s sexual self-schemas relate to the early neural processing of sexual information and their subsequent subjective sexual arousal. Twenty women are being recruited from the Queen’s psychology subject pool and data collection is currently underway. I am assessing women’s neural responses to sexual and non-sexual images (i.e., erect penises versus elbows) using electroencephalography (EEG), and women are reporting their feelings of arousal to the sexual images. Women are also completing a measure of sexual self-schemas. I predict that women who have more positive sexual self-schema scores will have a stronger neural response to sexual stimuli than women with more negative schema scores. In addition, I predict that women with more positive schema scores will self-report higher sexual arousal than women with more negative scores. The findings of this study will improve our understanding of the role of sexual self-schemas and early neural processing in women’s sexual response, thus lending to the development of a comprehensive, empirically-supported model of sexual response that accounts for within-gender variability. 

The comparison of sexual function and infertility in fertile and infertile couples

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1106-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ranjbar ◽  
F. Abbasalizadeh ◽  
P. Teimory ◽  
A. Alizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Infertile Couples ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fertile Women

IntroductionFertility is an important factor in life which can be disturb due to several factors.AimsThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between infertility and sexual dysfunction.MethodsIn an analytic - descriptive study 384 fertile and 384 infertile referring women to obstetrics and gynecological clinics were studied. All these women were evaluated considering the sexual functions. Finally the results were analyzed statistically.ResultsThe age average of these women was 27.84 4.67 and 27.38 5.45 in infertile and fertile groups respectively.The sexual desire (Pv < 0.001), the sexual arousal (Pv < 0.001). The ability of reach to orgasm (Pv < 0.001) and satisfaction from intercourse was better in fertile women.ConclusionsIt was concluded that the sexual function was significantly better in fertile women.

scholarly journals The effect of static versus dynamic stimuli on visual processing of sexual cues in androphilic women and gynephilic men

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 172286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha J. Dawson ◽  
Meredith L. Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Sexual Response ◽  
Stimulus Modality ◽  
Attentional Processing ◽  
Dynamic Stimuli ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Controlled Attention ◽  
Stimulus Features ◽  
Static Versus Dynamic

Models of sexual response posit that attentional processing of sexual cues is requisite for sexual responding. Despite hypothesized similarities in the underlying processes resulting in sexual response, gender differences in sexual arousal patterns are abundant. One such gender difference relates to the stimulus features (e.g. gender cues, sexual activity cues) that elicit a response in men and women. In this study, we examined how stimulus modality (static visual images versus dynamic audiovisual films) and stimulus features (gender, sexual activity and nonsexual contextual cues) influences attentional (i.e. gaze) and elaborative (i.e. self-reported attraction (SRA), self-reported arousal) processing of sexual stimuli. Men's initial and controlled attention was consistently gender-specific (i.e. greater attention towards female targets), and this was not influenced by stimulus modality or the presence of sexual activity cues. By contrast, gender-specificity of women's attention patterns differed as a function of attentional stage, stimulus modality and the features within the stimulus. Degree of specificity was positively predictive of SRA in both genders; however, it was not significantly predictive of self-reported arousal. These findings are discussed in the context of gendered processing of visual sexual information, including a discussion of implications for research designs.

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