Study uncovers sex differences in brain responses to low sexual desire

Published

1 year ago

May 16, 2024

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By Hugo Francisco de Souza May 16 2024 Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.

In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers investigated the neurofunctional determinants of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HDSS) in women and men. Colloquially termed ‘distressing low sexual desire,’ the condition has been hitherto studied in women but never before explored in men. In the present study, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) in tandem with psychometric questionnaires to evaluate male and female neurofunctional responses to sexual versus non-sexual video presentations.

This study found that women with distressingly low sexual desire follow the ‘top-down’ theory of HDSS wherein hyperactivity in higher-level cognitive brain regions suppresses lower-level sexual brain areas. In contrast, men were not observed to subscribe to this neurofunctional pattern, highlighting sexual dimorphism in the way male and female brains process sexual stimuli. While unable to elucidate the cognitive mechanisms underpinning HDSS in men, this study highlights the need for additional male HDSS research and suggests that clinically low sexual desire interventions used in women may not produce the desired outcomes in their male counterparts.

Women with HSDD have greater limbic activation to sexual videos than men. (A) The female and (B) male HSDD group average results showing the brains activation (red/yellow) and deactivation (blue green) to sexual compared to control (exercise) videos. (C) Brain regions more activated in women (relative to men) to sexual compared to control videos are shown in purple. Brain regions more activated in men (relative to women) to sexual compared to control videos are shown in green. Results are cluster corrected and thresholded to Z = 2.3, P < 0.05, N = 64 (32 women, 32 men). Study: Women with HSDD have greater limbic activation to sexual videos than men. (A) The female and (B) male HSDD group average results showing the brains activation (red/yellow) and deactivation (blue green) to sexual compared to control (exercise) videos. (C) Brain regions more activated in women (relative to men) to sexual compared to control videos are shown in purple. Brain regions more activated in men (relative to women) to sexual compared to control videos are shown in green. Results are cluster corrected and thresholded to Z = 2.3, P < 0.05, N = 64 (32 women, 32 men). Study: Women and men with distressing low sexual desire exhibit sexually dimorphic brain processing What is HDSS, and what do we know about the condition?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Revised (DSM-IV-TR) defines Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) as “persistent sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity that cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.” Colloquially termed ‘distressingly low sexual desire,’ ‘hyposexuality,’ or ‘inhibited sexual desire,’ HDSS is a sexual dysfunction whose symptoms include a significant lack of sexual fantasies and arousal even in sexually active men and women. Given the substantial social and interpersonal angst caused by HDSS, the condition is often found co-associated with depression and similar emotional disorders.

First identified in 1980 (DSM-III) and formally defined in 1987 (DSM-III-R), HDSS is a clinically distinct disorder from conditions such as asexuality and erectile dysfunction, with its causes hypothesized to include a history of sexual abuse, altered sex hormone levels, or other diseases such as cancers, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Despite its relatively recent description, HDSS is one of the most prevalent sexual disorders in the world today, estimated to affect 10% of all women and 8% of all men. Alarmingly, given the social stigmata associated with the condition, these numbers are assumed to be severe underestimations, highlighting the need for interventions against the quality of life (QoL) impacts of the neurofunctional disease.

Unfortunately, despite limited research on HDSS having hitherto been conducted, available scientific literature on the topic is almost exclusively directed towards women, with only one previous study on men, albeit using debatable methodologies. This disparity in research is reflected in treatment options, with two medically licensed interventions available for American women but none for American men. Notably, a vast majority of male HDSS incidents are misdiagnosed as erectile dysfunction, exacerbating the distress and mental health impacts of the condition. About the study

In the present study, researchers aim to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in tandem with multiple psychometric questionnaires to evaluate the neurofunctional responses of men and women with HDSS to sexual versus non-sexual stimuli (herein, video presentations – visual sexual stimuli). The study cohort was comprised of men and women with clinically confirmed HDSS (ICD-11) recruited through adverts across London (print and online media). Participant screening consisted of a telephone conversation followed by an in-person medical evaluation (blood and questionnaire-based) to distinguish between acquired and generalized HDSS. To avoid confounds from preexisting clinical conditions, individuals with a history of psychiatric illness or those on current medication were excluded from the study.

“…participants were required to be in a stable, communicative, and monogamous relationship for > 6 months. Participants were excluded if they had a history of unresolved sexual trauma, abuse or aggression, use of medications (prescribed or over the counter) or herbal preparations to enhance sexual desire, arousal or performance, or had contraindication to MRI scanning.” Related StoriesThe power of mixed selectivity: Insights into brain function and cognitionBrain-computer interface translates ALS patient's brain activity into spoken wordsModified sugar molecules boost stem cell therapy for brain repair after cardiac arrest

The experimental intervention involved the presentation of 20-second-long silent sexual videos (cases) alternating with neutral non-sexual exercise videos (controls) over a 12-minute standard validated (using the Likert scale) block design. Participants were required to complete a Sexual Desire and Arousal Inventory (SADI) questionnaire immediately before and after the experimental intervention, wherein 54 descriptors across ‘evaluative,’ ‘negative,’ ‘physiological,’ and ‘motivational’ domains were measured. During the experimental intervention, participants were subjected to a simultaneous fMRI and pulse-oximeter evaluation.

Data processing involved the correlations between questionnaire results and fMRI excitation images, overlaps between male and female activation patterns (via Dice Coefficients) across sexual versus non-sexual visual stimuli, and analysis of brain Regions of Interest (ROIs), especially those corresponding to the neural sex network (amygdala, hypothalamus, insula, pre-central gyrus, striatum, and thalamus). Study findings and conclusions

Following the screening process, the study sample group comprised 32 men and 32 women with clinically confirmed HDSS. While the men were, on average, nine years older than their female counterparts, Dice Coefficient results suggest that age did not bias study findings. Additionally, 20 ‘healthy’ men and women were recruited to validate the differences between the sexual and non-sexual stimuli and to establish baselines for neural activation stimuli response patterns.

“The findings are somewhat consistent with previous research in individuals with normal sexual desire, suggesting that women and men exhibit similar general overall patterns of activation to visual sexual stimuli. However, notable differences were observed in the activation of limbic brain regions in women and men with HSDD, particularly the hypothalamus, amygdala, and thalamus, which are key structures associated with emotional processing and sexual motivation.”

The present study highlights that the neural sex network in women with HDSS shows activation during the presentation of sexual stimuli; however, these ‘low-level’ neurofunctional centers (limbic regions) are masked by the simultaneous activation of higher-level cortical regions, supporting the “top-down” inhibition hypothesis proposed by Cacioppo. In contrast, men with HDSS failed to display activation of the neural sex network, suggesting that visual sexual cues are not effectively relayed to sexual response-associated emotional centers. This study is the first scientific work to elucidate the sexual dimorphism between male and female neurofunctional HDSS. It highlights the need for additional research, especially in men, before effective therapeutic interventions against the condition can be formulated. Journal reference: Ertl, N., Mills, E.G., Wall, M.B. et al. Women and men with distressing low sexual desire exhibit sexually dimorphic brain processing. Sci Rep 14, 11051 (2024), DOI – 10.1038/s41598-024-61190-4, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-61190-4

World

Liverpool football star Diogo Jota killed in car crash

Published

3 hours ago

July 4, 2025

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Liverpool football star Diogo Jota killed in car crash

Liverpool star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash.

The 28-year-old Portuguese forward died in the accident in the early hours of Thursday morning near Zamora, in northwestern Spain.

His brother, Andre Silva, was also killed in the crash on the Rias Bajas Highway (A-52) near Palacios de Sanabria, heading towards Benavente.

Follow the latest updates following Diogo Jota’s death

Jota and Silva were driving to Santander to catch a ferry back to England ahead of the start of Liverpool’s pre-season training on Monday, CNN Portugal reports.

The news outlet reports that Jota was advised against flying back to England due to recent surgery.

Police said the accident happened at 12.30am when the Lamborghini the pair were travelling in veered off the road.

“A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking,” the Guardia Civil in Zamora told Sky Sports News in a statement.

“As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed. Pending the completion of forensic tests, one of the deceased has been identified as Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother, Andre Felipe.”

A Spanish government source told the PA news agency that police were investigating the crash as “a possible speeding incident”.

Police added that no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road, including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle.

It comes just 10 days after the player married his long-term girlfriend, Rute Cardoso.

He had three children.

The footballer, who played as a striker for Liverpool, began his career in his native Portugal and played at Atletico Madrid in Spain before moving to England.

He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.

Jota played an important role throughout his five years with the Reds, including scoring six times in Liverpool’s recent Premier League-winning season.

He scored a total of 47 times in 123 matches for the club. He also played 49 times for the Portugal national side, scoring 14 times.

Silva, 25, played for Penafiel, a Portuguese second division club.

Teammates and football legends pay tribute

A statement issued by Liverpool FC said the club was “devastated” by their player’s death.

“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre,” the club said in a statement.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

The Portuguese football federation said it was “utterly devastated by the deaths”.

“Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community.

“We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.”

The Portugal and Spain women’s teams held a minute’s silence for Jota and Silva before their match in the Women’s Euros in Switzerland on Thursday evening.

It came after Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot said in a statement: “What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.

“All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.”

Jota’s former manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, offered his thoughts in a post on Instagram.

“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose, but I can’t see it,” he said.

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.

“We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk posted on Instagram: “What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.

“You mean so much to all of us and you always will!”

Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s captain in the national team, said: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married.

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.

“I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”

Jota’s Liverpool teammates Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai have also paid tribute.

Szoboszlai wrote: “Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten.

“We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch.”

Jota’s former teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Thiago Alcantara have also shared messages on social media.

Mane posted a picture of himself and Jota with heartbreak emojis.

It came as Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish wrote on X: “You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.”

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard shared an image of Jota on Instagram and wrote: “Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time.”

Liverpool owners Billy Hogan, John Henry and Tom Werner, who are part of the Fenway Sports Group, said: “This tragic situation and the reality of it is truly shocking, devastating and has left us numb with grief.”

Football icon Lionel Messi has also paid tribute, sharing an image of Jota on Instagram with the message “QEPD” – short for the Spanish phrase ‘que en paz descanse’, which translates to “may he rest in peace'”.

European football clubs such as Barcelona and AC Milan have also shared messages, along with basketball player LeBron James and tennis icon Rafael Nadal.

Meanwhile Liverpool FC have opened a physical and digital book of condolence for supporters and members of the public to sign.

The physical book is at the club’s stadium, in the Anfield Road Stand reception area until Sunday evening.

An avid video gamer, Jota also owned an eSports team and regularly streamed on Twitch.

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