Abstract
Sexual stimuli increase testosterone (T) or cortisol (C) in males of a variety of species, including humans, and just thinking
about sex increases T in women. We investigated whether sexual thoughts change T or C in men and whether hormone measures
(baseline, post-activity, and changes) correlate with psychological sexual arousal. We used the Imagined Social Situation
Exercise to assess how hormones respond to and correlate with sexual thoughts and arousal relative to three control conditions:
neutral, stressful, and positive. A total of 99 men provided a baseline saliva sample, imagined and wrote about a sexual or
control situation, and provided a second saliva sample 15 min later. Results indicated that, for participants in the sexual
condition, higher baseline and post-activity C corresponded to larger increases in self- reported sexual and autonomic arousal.
Although sexual thoughts increased sexual arousal, they did not change T or C compared to control conditions. Our results
suggest that sexual thoughts are not sufficient to change T or C in men, but C may facilitate sexual arousal by directing
energy towards a sexual situation.
about sex increases T in women. We investigated whether sexual thoughts change T or C in men and whether hormone measures
(baseline, post-activity, and changes) correlate with psychological sexual arousal. We used the Imagined Social Situation
Exercise to assess how hormones respond to and correlate with sexual thoughts and arousal relative to three control conditions:
neutral, stressful, and positive. A total of 99 men provided a baseline saliva sample, imagined and wrote about a sexual or
control situation, and provided a second saliva sample 15 min later. Results indicated that, for participants in the sexual
condition, higher baseline and post-activity C corresponded to larger increases in self- reported sexual and autonomic arousal.
Although sexual thoughts increased sexual arousal, they did not change T or C compared to control conditions. Our results
suggest that sexual thoughts are not sufficient to change T or C in men, but C may facilitate sexual arousal by directing
energy towards a sexual situation.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9858-6
- Authors
- Katherine L. Goldey, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Sari M. van Anders, Departments of Psychology & Women’s Studies, Program in Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002