A “Textbook” View of Sexual-Behavior Anatomy

1. A “Textbook” View ofSexual-Behavior Anatomy

3. The Nervous System • nervous system responsible for communication • between us and environment • among regions of the body • coordinates and integrates information • regulates activity; maintains homeostasis • memory & consciousness

4. Nervous system has unique organization • functional and structural • Functional Organization PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM • brain • spinal cord • cranial nerves • spinal nerves integration & control communication (signaling)

6. D A nerve cell showing dendrites and an incoming axon. A D

7. Histology slide illustrating the physical layout of some nerves.

8. Cognitive area

9. Limbic System of the Brain The limbic system is responsible for generating our emotional feelings (pleasure, frustration, anger) based on our cognitive interpretation of our environment

11. Our sensory nerves inform our brain about our physical environment

12. Sensory Areas sensory association cortex posterior to primary integrate inputs sensory memory visual cortex occipital lobe maps visual space association area interprets auditory temporal lobe hearing sound perception olfactory frontal above orbit

13. Pain vs. Pleasure Sensory areas of the brain receive input from nerve fibers which originate from different types of receptors (touch, visual, auditory, pain, taste). Sensory nerves originating from Pacinian corpuscles in the skin (mechanoreceptors) respond to touch. A-delta nerves originating from free nerve endings (Noci receptors) respond to tissue damage.

14. Primary (SI) and secondary (SII) sensory cortex involved with the localization of pain

15. Anterior portion of insular is most likely concerned with pain perception

16. Reflexes • Independent level of neural integration • acts without brain control • rapid predictable motor response • components • receptor • sensory neuron • integration center: • monosynaptic, polysynaptic • motor neuron • effector

17. All sensory information is relayed throughout different parts of the brain and our conscious interpretation of the stimuli generates an emotional response which we “feel”. Our CNS response to stimuli also includes (selective) changes in the (autonomic) sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve pathways; selective changes based on our interpretation of the stimuli.

18. Neurotransmitter secretions In ANS

19. Sympathetic N.S. Fight or Flight Reflexes - increase BP, metabolism, CNS activity Regulate autonomic functions

20. craniosacral motor nerves synapse in wall of organ vegetative functions internal housekeeping, recovery, rest G.I. activity digestive organs inhibit brain & muscle Parasympathetic N.S.

21. Learning and memory play a very important role in how we respond to specific stimuli

22. Memory A “memory” is not a discrete location in the brain made up of a cluster of cells which are independent of other cells. A “memory” is actually comprised of a “pattern” of nerve-cell activities made up of interconnected nerve cells which are scattered throughout the cerebral cortex. These cells are in turn interconnected to all other brain cells.

23. Memory/Learning We do not remember facts as discrete pieces of independent information. We have memories of “facts” only in association with other memories. We develop new memories only in association with existing memories.

24. Memory/Learning New memories are created by rearranging existing patterns of activated nerve cells into new patterns of activity. This process demands synthesis of new proteins in “some” nerve cells to modify their ability to be activated by other nerves and thereby create a new patterns of activation.

25. Learning Parts of the brain that are important for learning.

26. Learning Hippocampus coordinates environmental stimuli and activates existing memory.

27. Learning New memory is constructed based on novel stimulus in comparison to existing memory. “Strength” of the memory is dependent on the frequency and strength of the neural activity.

28. Learning The new memory is activated either through the “novel” stimulus or through the associated memory.

29. Memory We remember facts as pieces of “information” in relation to other pieces of “information” which in turn are related to other …

30. Memory / Learning / Behavior The most basic connection between behavior and memory is that we desire to perform behaviors which produce responses that we want….if we can’t remember that a particular behavior resulted in a desirable outcome, there is little chance we will seek out to repeat the same behavior. In addition, if a particular behavior results in an unpleasant experience, there is a strong likelihood that we will avoid that behavior. On the other hand, if a behavior is not particularly pleasant, but does result in a highly desirable outcome, there is a high likelihood that the unpleasant behavior will be continued in order to get the pleasant payoff.

31. Memory / Learning / Behavior With greater pleasure, reinforcement can be developed more easily and quickly. With greater activation of the memory & learning pathways during the behavior, the easier and faster the learning. With more important desired behaviors, there is greater craving in their absence.

32. Apply Learning and Memory to Sexual Behavior Positive & Negative Feedback Authority figures Beliefs Peers Associations of arousal with environment Experience or Imagination?