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Current Sexual Health Reports

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01-12-2017 | Preclinical and Psychophysiology (F Guarraci and L Marson, Section Editors)

The Role of Ovarian Hormones and the Medial Amygdala in Sexual Motivation

Authors: Mary K. Holder, Jessica A. Mong

Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Issue 4/2017

Abstract

Purpose

Although research into the neurobiology of sexual desire in women is active, relatively little is understood about the origins of sexual motivation in women. The purpose of our review is to discuss factors that influence a central sexual motivational state and generalized arousal as potential drivers of sexual motivation in women and female rats.

Recent Findings

Sexual motivation is the product of interactions of the central motive state and salient sexually relevant cues. Ovarian hormones and generalized arousal influence the central motive state, and endogenous levels of estradiol and progesterone correlate with sexual motivation and behavior in women. The amygdala is a key integratory site for generalized arousal and sexual sensory stimulation, which could then increase sexual motivation through its downstream projections.

Summary

Our model of enhanced female sexual motivation suggests that the combined effects of dopamine and progesterone receptor activation in the medial amygdala increase the incentive properties of a sexual stimulus. Further study into the interactions of ovarian hormones and mediators of generalized arousal on the processing of sexually relevant cues informs our understanding of the neurobiology of female sexual motivation and could lead to the development of therapeutics to treat the dysfunctions of sexual desire in women.

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Title: The Role of Ovarian Hormones and the Medial Amygdala in Sexual Motivation
Authors: Mary K. Holder
Jessica A. Mong
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0131-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

The Role of Ovarian Hormones and the Medial Amygdala in Sexual Motivation

Abstract

Purpose

Recent Findings

Summary

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Recent Findings

Summary

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