Question about Sex and Reading

[SexyScribe]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here.. I'm an erotica writer and i've been asked to write an article, non-fiction, about selling erotica, and I'm looking for some basic information (in layman terms! LOL) about what parts of the brain are stimulated by sex, as well as what parts are stimulated by language, reading in particular.

 

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for the help..

[tinyboy21]

?!?

well the hypothalamus controls sexual drive, but thats all I know.

[SexyScribe]

Maybe I should be a little more specific... LOL

 

The point I want to make in my article is about how reading about sex can be just as arousing as seeing a visual representation, and that because arousal occurs primarily in the brain, not the genitals, erotica is just another means to the same end.

 

I'm not writing a thesis or anything, it's just a simple marketing-slanted article about erotic fiction. The intended audience is the online adult entertainment industry, and I'm looking for a few specifics relevant to the point about arousal in the brain.

 

tinyboy21.. thanks!

[5614]

well the best way to prove this would be to do a survey.... to be honest, not much is known about the brain, and whilsts there may be a few people in the world who can answer your question, seemingly they are not here, and it is unlikely you'll ever find them.

 

i suggest you make people read something then ask them what they thought.... plus, as you said its not a thesis or something, obviosuly arousal happens in the brain, whilsts there are nerves all over your body, all information is sent to the brain.... however i still think that physical arousal will happen better than just reading or looking at books/pictures, do a survey, see what people think.

[YT2095]

the basal ganglia would also be a good place to start as it`s responsible for our most primative urges.

 

Glider would be the one to ask though

[BrainMan]

The problem is that both questions (language and arousal) are quite complicated on thier own, and connecting the two is no small task. I know a bit about both, but I really don't know where to start for an explination- much less just a brief overview for a layman. How about this:

 

Reading can invoke the imagination. As we imagine the scenes we read about, our imagination can activate some of the same parts of the brain that are activated when we actually experience it! Thus, imagining a visual image (like a beautiful person) activates the visual system of the brain to create the image. Imagining a movement (like running your hand along another person's...) activates the motor systems of the brian that actually create the movements. This can "trick" the brain into thinking that it is about to mate, which can cause the release of hormones (like adrenaline, to speed the heart and make breathing heavier) and the release of transmitters (like dopamine) for pleasure. [There is something called the dopamine brain reward pathway which is activated during pleasuarble events.] This whole chain of events activates a sort of "feedback system" between the brain and the body that continues to escalate as the person becomes more and more excited.

 

Was any of that helpful?

[tinyboy21]

Where do you write? What site is it, and what do most of your stories involve? eg. Gay, BDSM, orgy...

[SexyScribe]

Hi everyone, Thanks for your replies! I know it's not an easy sort of question to answer..

 

Brainman.. thank you! yes, this is the kind of info i'm looking for. A relatively simple connect-the-dots sort of analogy. Btw, you write really well... I'm tempted to hire you to write my own marketing copy! hehehe

 

You nailed the idea concisely: "As we imagine the scenes we read about, our imagination can activate some of the same parts of the brain that are activated when we actually experience it!"

 

I'm writing for an audience of porn site owners and webmasters, and want to illustrate the simple and often overlooked point, that erotica stories are yet another way to arouse their surfers. Not better than porn videos, but rather, an additional source of stimulation.

 

Being the seller of said stories, I want to throw all the ammo I can at them.

 

 

tinyboy21... Beyond being a freelance writer, I run an erotica publishing house, and we're just getting our online library up and running, which includes all kinds of erotica stories from straight hardcore and softcore to BDSM, gay, lesbian, orgy, etc..

 

There's only a couple of bare-bones pages up atm, but you can check out the beginning of the site at sexyscribe dot com. Any closet erotica writers lurking on the board are welcome to send in story submissions!

[jgerlica]

What about the obvious? That women are more affected by the written word than visual stimulation?

[SexyScribe]

That is one argument to consider, but it's a hard one to substantiate, especially with this particular audience. I know plenty of women who love hardcore porn and don't read much or any erotica: eg. amateur porn stars.

 

On the other hand, I receive many erotica story submissions written by men.

 

The closer you look at it, the less obvious it becomes.

[MolecularMan14]

well couldnt there be a study done as to mental stimulation response from either visual or written erotica?

[SexyScribe]

That's a good idea.. Anyone know if any such study has already been done?

[john5746]

They should be able to easily get college test subjects! Speaking from the male perspective, Touch is best, visual second, hearing third... language is turned off(after Foreplay)!

 

Since sex occurs in the brain, imagination is important. The more imagination a person has the more they can make the images or whatever they need from the written word.

 

Imagination is good, but reality is better.

[tinyboy21]

oy, yeah, but imagination is still sweet

[SexyScribe]

There's no doubt that physical stimulation is, well.. stimulating! LOL

 

The comparison I'm working with however, is between porn videos and written erotica. (There's no physical stimulation involved, other than self-love.. hahahaha)

 

It is the imagination that's triggered in both these instances, whether the trigger is a visual image or some words, and it's imagination that carries us the distance. I think most people on this board would agree, as would most people who have some knowledge of biology, neuroscience or just basically how the body works. But, some people laugh at the idea that "sex occurs in the brain" and for these people, the dots have to be connected to illustrate that point.

 

So far, in these replies, no one has questioned that erotica is a turn on, just whether it's better than other forms of stimulation. I'm not looking to prove that.. although it sounds like a fun study to try!

 

Does anyone simply disagree with the notion that erotica is a valid source of sexual stimulation?

[Skye]

If you're talking business then I think you're better off talking about the business side of things. Find out how much money there is in the market, growth rates, costs and the likely profits.

[YT2095]

That's a good idea.. Anyone know if any such study has already been done?

it has indded been proven with studies that Men are more Visualy stimulated by such things than Women are. this however is NOT a rule, it`s a generality

 

http://www.sexual-truth.com/settingthemood.html

 

http://www.ivillage.com/relationships/experts/sexcoach/articles/0,,180190_531638-3,00.html

 

"

The claustrum is the region of the brain most strongly linked with visual sexual stimulation in men, French scientists report.The claustrum was not the only area of the brain demonstrated to be involved in sexual arousal, but further study of this area of the temporal lobe could improve understanding of human sexual response. Activity of the claustrum was directly linked with the intensity of the sexual arousal. Other areas of the brain also reacted to the stimuli but the activity of the claustrum was most closely associated with the self-reported level of arousal reported in the journal Human Brain Mapping. "

taken from: http://psychological.com/past_factoids_vol3.htm

 

 

 

hope some of that helps a little