TY - JOUR
T1 - Specific factors and methodological decisions influencing brain responses to sexual stimuli in women
AU - van 't Hof, Sophie Rosa
AU - Cera, Nicoletta
N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported by a grant from the Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology ( FCT- PTDC/PSI-GER/30520/2017 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s) Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/12/1
Y1 - 2021/12/1
N2 - Most of the neuroimaging studies on sexual behavior have been conducted with male participants, leading to men-based models of sexual arousal. Here, possible factors and methodological decisions that might influence brain responses to sexual stimuli, specifically for the inclusion of women, will be reviewed. Based on this review, we suggest that future studies consider the following factors: menstrual phase, hormonal contraception use, history of sexual or psychiatric disorders or diseases, and medication use. Moreover, when researching sexual arousal, we suggest future studies assess sexual orientation and preferences, that women should select visual sexual stimuli, and a longer duration than commonly used. This review is thought to represent a useful guideline for future research in sexual arousal, which hopefully will lead to a higher inclusion of women and therefore more accurate neurobiological models of sexual arousal.
AB - Most of the neuroimaging studies on sexual behavior have been conducted with male participants, leading to men-based models of sexual arousal. Here, possible factors and methodological decisions that might influence brain responses to sexual stimuli, specifically for the inclusion of women, will be reviewed. Based on this review, we suggest that future studies consider the following factors: menstrual phase, hormonal contraception use, history of sexual or psychiatric disorders or diseases, and medication use. Moreover, when researching sexual arousal, we suggest future studies assess sexual orientation and preferences, that women should select visual sexual stimuli, and a longer duration than commonly used. This review is thought to represent a useful guideline for future research in sexual arousal, which hopefully will lead to a higher inclusion of women and therefore more accurate neurobiological models of sexual arousal.
KW - Brain
KW - Functional magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Neuroimaging
KW - Positron emission transmission
KW - Sexual arousal
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115643494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.013
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 34560132
SN - 0149-7634
VL - 131
SP - 164
EP - 178
JO - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
JF - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
ER -