The effects of immediate, delayed, and residual sympathetic activation on sexual arousal in women.
In a recent experiment, Meston and Gorzalka (1995) [Behaviour, Research and Therapy, 33, 651-664] demonstrated a facilitatory effect of sympathetic activation, via acute exercise, on female sexual arousal. The present investigation was designed to examine the time course of this effect. Thirty-six sexually functional women participated in two experimental sessions in which they viewed a neutral film followed by an erotic film. In one of these sessions, Ss were exposed to 20 min of intense exercise (stationary cycling) prior to viewing the films. Subjective (self-report) and physiological (photoplethysmograph) sexual arousal were measured at either 5 min, 15 min, or 30 min post-exercise. Acute exercise marginally decreased vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) and had no effect on vaginal blood volume (VBV) responses to an erotic film when measured 5 min post-exercise. At 15 min post-exercise, exercise significantly increased VPA and marginally increased VBV responses. At 30 min post-exercise, both VPA and VBV responses to an erotic film were marginally increased. Acute exercise had no significant effect on subjective perceptions of sexual arousal in any of the experimental conditions.
Meston
C M
CM
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Gorzalka
B B
BB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000098:blood supply