Sexual stimulation
Sexual stimulation is a broad term, usually understood to mean physical touching of the genitals or other body parts.
The term can, however, include stimuli affecting the mind (sexual fantasy),[1] or senses other than touch sight, smell, or hearing).
Arousal is triggered through these receptors in these body parts,[7] which cause the release of pleasure-causing chemicals (endorphins) that act as mental rewards to pursue such stimulation.
Someone may become aroused by simply touching another person, though the bulbocavernosus reflex only occurs when a sexual organ (penis or clitoris) is stimulated.
[8] One study found that women benefit more from pleasurable sex with a committed partner, while gender did not impact the relationship with masturbation.
Ancient Chinese dildos were made of bronze or other metals and some were hollow allowing them to be filled with liquid to simulate an ejaculation.
On the night before a woman's wedding, a local holy man would come and break her hymen with a large stone dildo, a ritual also used to confirm the virginity of the bride.
In one study[22] participants performed some physical exercise and at different stages of recovery had to watch an erotic film and rate how aroused it made them feel.
[23][24][25] An apparent example is the act of voyeurism – a practice where an individual covertly watches another undress or engage in sexual behaviour.
Although seen socio-historically as an unacceptable form of 'sexual deviation', it highlights the human tendency to find sexual stimulation through purely visual routes.
Although significantly higher in the male group, sexual arousal was the main emotional reaction reported by both sexes.
Their physiological responses to the video also showed characteristics of sexual arousal, such as increased urinary excretions of adrenaline.
[28] A subsequent study investigating male arousal showed that men were able to achieve rigid erections through visual stimulation of an erotic film alone.
The results showed that olfactory stimulation with women's perfume produces activation of specific brain areas associated with sexual arousal in men.
[32] Evolutionary analysis of sex differences in reproductive strategies can help explain the importance of smell in sexual arousal due to its link to immunological profile and offspring viability.
[33] This is because olfactory cues may be able to trigger an incest avoidance mechanism by reflecting parts of an individual's genetic equipment.
Additionally, when considering sexual activity, females singled out body odour from all other sensory experiences as most able to negatively affect desire.
These include sighs, moans, strong expirations and inspirations, increased breathing rate and occasionally, at orgasm, screams of ecstasy.
Many of these sounds are highly exciting to people, and act as strong reinforcers of sexual arousal, creating a powerful positive feedback effect.
In one mood induction study, exposure to certain music resulted in significantly greater penile tumescence and subjective sexual arousal for men.
[38] In a similar experiment, women did not show significant physiological responses to certain types of music but did report higher levels of sexual arousal.
[42] Women's fantasies have significantly more affection and commitment,[43] whereas men are more likely to fantasise using visual imagery and explicit detail.
Women have a higher minimum parental investment than males (they have 9 months of gestation prior birth and are then the main care givers, whereas men only have to provide sperm to ensure their genes are passed on) and are therefore more likely to want commitment from their partner in order to gain resources to improve their offspring's chance of survival.
This can include fantasies (discussed above) and fetishes, such as BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism) or age-play.
[54] Role-play can also be carried out online, by typing stories to each other or pretending to be a character, and is therefore a form of mental stimulation you can engage in with another person without them being physically present.
[56] According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 80% of middle aged women with heart failure have reported a decrease in vaginal lubrication, leading to challenges in successful intercourse.
[57] Within the study conducted by Sandra Garcia and her colleagues, suggested that trauma-related changes may impact genital tissues, affecting blood flow and response to sexual stimulation.
