Lecture 5 – Sexual Arousal, Response, Behaviors & Alternative Sexuality

These vocabulary flashcards summarize key terms, brain regions, models, behaviors, and alternative sexuality concepts discussed throughout Lecture 5 to aid exam review.

Sexual arousal

Activation of reflexes involving sexual organs, hormones, and the nervous system that may be triggered by emotions, intimacy, fantasy, or sensory input.

Cerebral cortex

Outer layer of the brain responsible for higher mental processes (memory, language, imagination, reasoning) that can increase or inhibit sexual arousal.

Limbic system

Brain region tied to emotion and motivation; includes structures like the hypothalamus and amygdala that regulate sexual function.

Medial preoptic area (MPOA)

Part of the hypothalamus strongly associated with initiation of sexual arousal and behavior.