Neuroanatomy and function of human sexual behavior: A neglected or unknown issue?
Brain and behavior, 2019•Wiley Online Library
Introduction Sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm are mediated by complex, yet still not fully
understood, interactions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems operating at the
central and peripheral levels. Disruption of endocrine, neural, or vascular response, caused
by aging, medical illness, neurological diseases, surgery, or drugs, can lead to sexual
dysfunctions, thus significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Purpose This narrative review
aims at characterizing the involvement of the central nervous system in human sexual …
understood, interactions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems operating at the
central and peripheral levels. Disruption of endocrine, neural, or vascular response, caused
by aging, medical illness, neurological diseases, surgery, or drugs, can lead to sexual
dysfunctions, thus significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Purpose This narrative review
aims at characterizing the involvement of the central nervous system in human sexual …
Introduction
Sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm are mediated by complex, yet still not fully understood, interactions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems operating at the central and peripheral levels. Disruption of endocrine, neural, or vascular response, caused by aging, medical illness, neurological diseases, surgery, or drugs, can lead to sexual dysfunctions, thus significantly affecting patients' quality of life.
Purpose
This narrative review aims at characterizing the involvement of the central nervous system in human sexual behavior.
Methods
A literature search was conducted using PubMed in its entirety up to June 2018, analyzing the studies dealing with the neurobiological and neurophysiological basis of human sexuality.
Results
Sexual behavior is regulated by both subcortical structures, such as the hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord, and several cortical brain areas acting as an orchestra to finely adjust this primitive, complex, and versatile behavior. At the central level, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems appear to play a significant role in various factors of sexual response, although adrenergic, cholinergic, and other neuropeptide transmitter systems may contribute as well.
Conclusions
Providing healthcare professionals with information concerning sexual behavior may overcome useless and sometimes dangerous barriers and improve patient management, since sexual well‐being is considered one of the most important aspects of one's quality of life.
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