The purpose of this study is to study the acquisition and extinction/counterconditioning of aversively conditioned sexual responses. The study will investigate how sexual stimuli may lose sexually rewarding properties by repeated pairing with…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Sexual dysfunctions, disturbances and gender identity disorders
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
During the pre-conditioning, acquisition, and extinction/counterconditioning
phases a. genital sexual arousal will be assessed using vaginal
photoplethysmography, b. pelvic floor activity is assessed by vaginal surface
EMG, and, c. facial disgust expressions are assessed using facial EMG. Also
self-reported ratings of a. emotional valence, b. subjective sexual arousal,
and c. US expectancy are collected.
Secondary outcome
Behavioural approach\avoidance responses towards the CSs will be assessed after
the extinction/counterconditioning phase.
Background summary
It is assumed that in sexual motivation disorders such as too little sexual
desire and sexual aversion, basic learning by classical conditioning plays an
essential role. Through aversive classical conditioning (repeated pairing of
sex and disgust for example) sexual stimuli can become associated with negative
emotional experience, resulting in less attraction or even aversion to sex.
Although experimental research on the effects of aversive classical
conditioning on sexual response is important to understand the underlying
mechanism of low sexual desire and sexual aversion, this kind of research in
humans is scarce. In this study, acquisition and extinction processes in
aversive sexual conditioning will be studied in women. We hypothesize that
repeated pairing of a sexual stimulus and a disgust stimulus results, through
classical conditioning, in a learned aversive response and in inhibition of
sexual responses to this sexual stimulus. Previous studies have indicated that
aversively conditioned sexual responses do not extinguish significantly during
a brief extinction phase, suggesting resistance to extinction, and the need for
counterconditioning. Resistance to extinction and more effect of
counterconditioning to counteract aversively conditioned sexual responses may
have important clinical implications. To investigate resistance to extinction
and counterconditiioning systematically, in this study extinction of
conditioned responses will be studied by inclusion of a relatively large series
of extinction trials, and counterconditioning by pairing the conditioned
stimulus repeatedly with pleasurable stimuli.
Study objective
The purpose of this study is to study the acquisition and
extinction/counterconditioning of aversively conditioned sexual responses. The
study will investigate how sexual stimuli may lose sexually rewarding
properties by repeated pairing with disgust, and whether conditioned responses
are resistant to extinction or counterconditioning. This knowledge may help in
the treatment of sexual motivation disorders such as too little sexual desire
and sexual aversion.
Study design
Differential classical conditioning design. Two sexual pictures will serve as
conditional stimuli (CSs) and a disgust video as the unconditional stimulus
(US). Only one CS (the CS+) will be followed by the US during the acquisition
phase. Extinction of conditioned responses will be studied in an extinction
phase in which the CSs will not be followed by the US.And counterconditioning
will be studied by pairing the CS+ with pleasurable stimuli.
Study burden and risks
All participants will visit the hospital one time and go through a 90 minute
experimental session with vaginal photoplethysmography, vaginal surface EMG,
and facial EMG. After this session they will complete a set of questionnaires
about socio-demographic variables, sexual functioning, (sexual) disgust
propensity, sexual excitation and inhibition sensitivity, and sexual abuse
history. Completion of the questionnaires will take about 30 minutes. Vaginal
photoplethysmography/vaginal surface EMG and facial EMG do not cause harm or
discomfort. Self-insertion of the vaginal measurement device (with the size of
a menstruation tampon), exposure to disgust eliciting film clips, and
completion of questionnaires about sexual functioning may be experienced as
uncomfortable.
Albinusdreef 2
Leiden 2300 RC
NL
Albinusdreef 2
Leiden 2300 RC
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
age between 18-45 year
no sexual complaints for at least one year,
Exclusion criteria
Subjects will be excluded if any of the following applies:
- Age < 18 or > 45 years
- Homosexual orientation (because of the heterosexual stimulus material)
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Current serious affective, or psychotic problems.
- Current or recent (less than 3 months before participation) psychological problems associated with a history of sexual abuse (experience of unwanted genital touching and/or sexual intercourse including penetration).
- Having undergone a radical hysterectomy or prolapse surgery
- Current or recurrent use (less than 4 weeks before participation) of medication that may affect sexual response. To determine possible sexual side-effects the *Farmacotherapeutisch kompas* 2011 will be used.
- Current or previous disorders of the genitals that may influence the sexual response or the measurement of the response
- Other medical disorders that may influence the sexual response or the measurement of the response.
Design
Recruitment
metc-ldd@lumc.nl
metc-ldd@lumc.nl
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
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In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL60798.058.17 |