Central inhibition of sexual response in the male: a theoretical perspective

“While the dual control model was formulated to examine sexual ''arousal'' and sexual response, sexual arousal is a component of sexual desire (Bancroft, 2009) and increased sexual excitation, as measured by the SES, is associated with both increased sexual arousal and appetitive behavior in men and women (Bancroft et…”

“The neurobiology and psychopharmacology of sexual inhibition is complex, with an array of mediators and neuromodulators involved (Bancroft, 1999). However, serotonin does appear to play a crucial role. Kafka (1997) has proposed that a dysregulation of central monoamine function underlies out of control sexual behavior…”

“Two convenience samples of gay (N1⁄4 1,196) and heterosexual (N1⁄4 1,558) men, recruited mainly from the Internet, were compared for their SIS=SES scores (Bancroft, Carnes, Janssen, & Long, 2005). The two groups were similar in age (gay, mean age1⁄4 34.8; straight, mean age1⁄4 34.5) and differed mainly as to the propo…”

“The peripheral inhibitory pathways clearly involve serotonin and norepinephrine, and quite possibly other mechanisms in addition (see Ref. [ 4 ] for review).”

“We have built on Gray’s model with our dual control model of sexual behaviour, which postulates parallel function and interaction of sexual excitatory and inhibitory systems in the brain (Bancroft 1999, Bancroft & Janssen 2000).”

“The above development shows that any model of the neural correlates of SA should include a component consisting in the control of the motor expression of SA (Bancroft, 1999).”

“For some, however, the propensity for SI may be unduly high, resulting in an impairment of the capacity for sexual function and, for others, the propensity for SI may be low, increasing the likelihood of engaging in high-risk sexual behavior (Bancroft, 1999).”

“…links) Aversion-related (Iaversive) (1) External stimuli (e.g., associated with fear or disgust); general behavioral inhibition system (Bancroft, 1999; Gray & McNaughton, 2000); (2) intrinsically triggered, cognitively based aversion (e.g., guilt) or anticipated performance…”

“Whereas there is substantial evidence of the existence of inhibitory mechanisms within the CNS which could form the basis of our inhibitory system (Bancroft 1999), the evidence does not permit the description and anatomic localization of our putative inhibitory system in the way that the sexual excitatory system has b…”

“In investigating individual variability in the relation between mood and sexuality, we were also interested in the extent to which we could explain such variability on the basis of our " Dual Control " model of sexual response (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“Bancroft, J. (2008). Sexual behavior that is ‘‘out of control’’: A theoretical conceptual approach. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31, 593–601. Bancroft, J. (2009). Human sexuality and its problems (3rd ed.). New York: Elsevier. Bancroft, J., Carnes, L., & Janssen, E. (2005). Unprotected anal intercourse in HIV…”

“The neurophysiological and pharmacological evidence supporting such a dual control system in males has been reviewed ( Bancroft, 1999 ) and a questionnaire method for measuring individual differences in propensity for both inhibition and excitation has been developed and shown to have good psychometric properties (Jan…”

“Second, the results support the idea that excitation and inhibition can be conceptualized as relatively independent factors affecting sexual arousal (Bancroft, 1999).”

“Sexual inhibition processes are thought to involve multiple pathways, for example neuropeptidergic and serotonergic processes, and centers in the brain stem and lateral hypothalamus (Bancroft, 1999).”

“Our theoretical dual control model postulates individual variability in the propensity for sexual excitation as well as inhibition of sexual response in the face of a threat or risk (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“According to our " dual control " model (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000), in which sexual response depends on a balance of excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms in the brain, we postulated that most men, with normal levels of excitation and inhibition proneness, would be unlikely to become…”

“In these two studies, Bancroft and colleagues explored to what degree the “dual control model” of sexual response (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000) could help explain variability in the relation between mood and sexuality.”

“Our recently developed “dual control” model of sexual responsiveness postulates that individuals vary in their propensity for both sexual excitation and inhibition of sexual response ( Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“The underlying theoretical model postulates that sexual response and associated behavior depend on dual control mechanisms, involving excitatory and inhibitory neurophysiological systems (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“This model postulates that there are mechanisms in the brain for both sexual excitation and for inhibition of sexual response, and that individuals vary in their propensity for both excitation and inhibition ( Bancroft, 1999 ).”

“Levels of inhibitory tone that are either too low or too high, however may contribute to problems ranging from high-risk sexual behavior to sexual dysfunctions (Bancroft, 1999; Janssen et al., 2002a, 2002b).”

“was the dual control model of sexual response ( Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000), which postulates that separate and relatively independent excitatory and inhibitory sexual systems exist within the central nervous system, and that it is the balance between these two systems that determines whether a sexual re…”

“These three types of proposed inhibitory processes are consistent with the dual model of the control of sexual behavior proposed by Bancroft (1999). Regarding the cognitive component of the model, only controls showed an activation in the lower and rostral part of the inferior parietal lobules.”

“The model has been described more fully elsewhere (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“This functional aspect of partner desire is in line with the dual control model (Bancroft, Graham, Janssen, & Sanders, 2009), which postulates individuals with a high propensity for SI are more likely to develop sexual dysfunction, such as low sexual desire (Bancroft, 1999; Prause, Janssen, & Hetrick, 2008).”

“The dual-control model of sexual excitation and inhibition by Bancroft and Janssen [2, 3] is one the most promising concepts, especially in terms of treatment aspects.”

“TheDCMpostulates that thedegreeof sexualarousaldependson the individual responsiveness of two distinct neurophysiological systems:sexualexcitationandsexual inhibition(Bancroft,1999).”

“38,39 Particularly a higher propensity for sexual inhibition due to threat of sexual performance failure, rather than lower levels of excitation, would constitute a risk factor for the development and maintenance of ED.”

“Thus our use of the Dual Control Model has been based on conceptual systems in the brain, defined in terms of function rather than specific neurotransmitter mediation or anatomic localization.(25)”

“Furthermore, the model postulates that individuals vary in their propensity for both excitation and inhibition (Bancroft, 1999).”

“It has been proposed that tonic norepinephrine action on the a-1 adrenoreceptor is vital to the constricted sinusoidal smooth muscle tone of the flaccid penis (43).”

“In recent years, however, others have conceptualized arousal as the outcome of physiological, psychological, and behavioral processes (Janssen, Everaerd, Spiering, & Janssen, 2000) and developed models to describe the processes that lead to sexual arousal in men and women (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000; Gra…”

“…responses involve an interaction between sexual excitatory and sexual inhibitory processes” (Bancroft, Graham, Janssen, & Sanders, 2009, p. 121; also see Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000), with excitatory processes increasing, and inhibitory processes decreasing, sexual desire and behavior.”

“Specifically, neurons of the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and hypothalamic dopaminergic systems express a high density of prolactin receptors [29] [30] [31], and are known to play pivotal roles in the regulation of sexual arousal and behaviour [32] [33].”

“Various names have been applied to this construct, including sexual desire dysregulation ( Bancroft, 1999 ), sexual addiction (Carnes, 1983), and sexual compulsivity (Coleman, 1990), but the committee recommends the more descriptive term, Hypersexual Disorder.”

“To help explain this variability in response, Bancroft and colleagues proposed a dual control model of sexual response (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“One candidate concerns the role of individual differences in sexual inhibition and excitation (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“Interestingly, in addition to the Dual Control Model of psychophysiological mechanisms in the central nervous system as an explanatory model (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000), evidence of a comparable dual control in the erectile tissues has been emerging, with erection depending upon the balance between the…”

“…Scale/Sexual Excitation Scale holds that, in humans, sexual response and related sexual behaviors depend on a twofold control mechanism present at the cerebral level and based on the balance created between the excitatory system and the inhibitory system (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“) Brain function is of course also essential to the normal stimulation and inhibition of erection”

“, feeding and predator avoidance) and reduced fertility due to too many ejaculations [35].”

“Although a discussion of the central and peripheral neuro-physiology of sexual excitation and inhibition is beyond the focus of this review – see Bancroft (1999), Georgiadis et al. (2012), and Pfaus (2009) for relevant discussions – a number of studies have started to examine the association…”

“Bancroft described a delicate balance between central excitatory and inhibiting mechanisms adding greater understanding of the role of anxiety and other psychogenic factors in ED [24].”

“Although a number of alternative models have been put forward, many of these models endeavour to unify factors that promote or inhibit the sexual response (Bancroft, 1999; Carpenter, Janssen, Graham, Vorst, & Wicherts, 2008; Fisher, Aron, Mashek, Li, & Brown, 2002; Perelman, 2009). However, there is also a need for mo…”

“The underlying theoretical model, the Dual Control Model of Sexual Response, postulates that sexual arousal and associated processes result from a balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurophysiological mechanisms in the central nervous system (Bancroft, 1999; Bancroft & Janssen, 2000).”

“Así, Bancroft (1999) enumera las ocasiones en las que un determinado nivel de inhibición en el varón puede resultar adaptativo: 1) cuando una situación sexual es percibida como amenaza (e.g., riesgo de infecciones de transmisión sexual), 2) cuando la amenaza percibida no es sexual y la inhibición…”

“Our theoretical approach to studying the impact of sexual arousal on sexual risk-taking is based on the assumption that inhibition of sexual arousal, across species, is an adaptive mechanism that reduces the likelihood that sexual activity occurs in situations where such activity is likely to be disadvantageous (Bancr…”

“While arousal may function as an incentive, it is connected to implicit memory (see Everaerd, 1993; Agmo, 1999; Everaerd, Laan, & Spiering; Everaerd, Laan, Both, & Spiering, 2000, 2001; Bancroft, 1999; Geer, Lapour, & Jackson, 1993; Janseen & Everaerd, 1993), and although sexual arousal may appear to be activated auto…”

“Finally, Bancroft’s [41] model of psychogenic factors in erectile dysfunction depends on a delicate balance between central excitatory and inhibiting mechanisms would seem to have potential applicability to the understanding of RE as well.”

“Such dose-response effects on sexual arousal may stem, in part, from the neuromodulation of cortical and subcortical circuits involved in behavioral inhibition or activation (Bancroft, 1999; Paredes, Karam, Highland, & Agmo, 1997).”

“…in overall responsiveness, since their interaction seems to encompass individual differences across all state circuitries, i.e., arousal, wanting, and liking, as well as aversion-circuitries (Bancroft, 1999; sometimes referred to as sensitivity of the overall nervous system; Toates, 2009, p. 170).”

“One considerable explanation for this association is that the negative psychological states may adversely affect the male central inhibitory mechanism of SA [Bancroft, 1999].”

“Of note, Bancroft and colleagues at the Kinsey Institute postulate that men and women have an inherent sexual responsivity, perhaps, noradrenergically based, balanced by a variable amount of tonic inhibition [3].”

“In accordance with the DCM, sexual excitation and sexual inhibition are relatively independent.”

“Although a number of other labels and various conceptualizations have been used to identify constructs with identical features (Bancroft, 1999; Barth & Kinder, 1987; Carnes & Adams, 2002; Kalichman & Rompa, 1995), most major theories converge on similar characteristics, including compulsive sexual…”