The clinical division of the UBC Sexual Psychophysiology and Psychoneuroendocrinology Laboratory was started in the late 1980s. Researchers in this division conduct applied clinical research on sexual arousal in order to develop a better understanding of the processes involved in sexual arousal as well as investigate the effects of various pharmacological, biological, and cultural variables on sexual functioning, behaviour, and attitudes. This research utilizes in-depth interviews (some of which are conducted by medical practitioners within hospital settings), self-report questionnaires, and the vaginal photoplethysmograph to assess women's subjective and physiological arousal.
Given the highly sensitive nature of this research, confidentiality and an atmosphere of respect are critical. Each of the female researchers has undergone extensive training in research protocols with female sexuality. Additionally, our instruments undergo a thorough disinfection between uses and are completely safe.
Specific topics that have been a focus in the laboratory include:
Sympathetic Nervous System Arousal and Sexual Functioning
Initially, this research focused on the effects of anxiety on sexual functioning in sexually functional versus dysfunctional women. The results revealed that exposure to an anxiety-inducing stimulus enhanced the rate and magnitude of genital arousal for both sexually dysfunctional and functional subjects in relation to a neutral condition. However, despite increased genital arousal, subjective arousal decreased in both groups of women.
This research then led to further studies on the effects of sympathetic nervous system arousal on sexual functioning, including studies looking at the effects of exercise and hyperventilation. The research on exercise found that acute exercise (20 minutes of intense exercise prior to being exposed to sexual stimuli) significantly increased vaginal pulse amplitude responses to the erotic stimuli and marginally increased vaginal blood volume responses. As with anxiety, exercise was not found to have a significant effect on subjective sexual arousal.
Further research found that exercise had its strongest effects on physiological sexual arousal 15 minutes after exercise (versus 5 minutes and 30 minutes after exercise). In examining differences in the effects of exercise on sexual functioning in women with varying sexual dysfunctions, it was found that acute exercise significantly increased vaginal pulse amplitude and vaginal blood volume responses to sexual stimuli in sexually functional women and in women with low sexual desire. In contrast, in anorgasmic women, exercise significantly decreased vaginal pulse amplitude and had no effect on vaginal blood volume. Taken together, these studies provide indirect support for a facilitatory role of sympathetic nervous system activation on female sexual arousal.
Laboratory-induced hyperventilation, as with exercise, was found to increase sympathetic nervous system activation. Results from a study investigating the effects of hyperventilation on sexual arousal in pre- versus postmenopausal women demonstrated that increased sympathetic nervous system activation increased genital arousal only in young, premenopausal women, suggesting that sympathetic nervous system enhancement can differentiate pre- from postmenopausal genital arousal. The study also found significant correlations between genital and subjective sexual arousal in older pre- and postmenopausal women, but not in young premenopausal women.
Published studies stemming from this research include:
Brotto, L.A., & Gorzalka, B.B. (2002). Genital and subjective sexual arousal in postmenopausal women: Influence of laboratory-induced hyperventilation. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 28(S), 39-53.
Meston, C.M., & Gorzalka, B.B. (1996). The differential effects of sympathetic activation on sexual arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 582-591.
Meston, C.M., & Gorzalka, B.B. (1996). The effects of immediate, delayed, and residual sympathetic activation on sexual arousal in women. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 34, 143-148.
Meston, C.M., & Gorzalka, B.B. (1995). The effects of sympathetic activation via acute exercise on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in women. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 651-664.
Palace, E.M., and Gorzalka, B.B. (1990). The enhancing effects of anxiety on arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 403-411.
Sexual Arousal and Sexual Dysfunctions
Research has also been conducted on the differences in genital and subjective sexual arousal in sexually functional versus sexually dysfunctional women, with some of this research overlapping with the research on sympathetic nervous system arousal mentioned above.
Published studies stemming from this research include:
Brotto, L.A., Basson, R., & Gorzalka, B.B. (2004). Psychophysiological assessment in premenopausal sexual arousal disorder. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 1, 266-277.
Meston, C.M., & Gorzalka, B.B. (1996). The differential effects of sympathetic activation on sexual arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 582-591.
Palace, E.M., and Gorzalka, B.B. (1992). Differential patterns of arousal in sexually functional and dysfunctional women: Physiological and subjective components of sexual response. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 21, 135-159.
Palace, E.M., and Gorzalka, B.B. (1990). The enhancing effects of anxiety on arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 403-411.
Psychoactive Drugs and Sexual Behaviour
Several studies have also been conducted on the effects of psychoactive drugs on sexual behaviour, including Clonidine, Viagra, and oral contraceptives.
Published studies resulting from this research include:
Seal, B.N., Brotto, L.A., & Gorzalka, B.B. (2005). Oral contraceptive use and female genital arousal: Methodological considerations. Journal of Sex Research, 42, 249-258 .
Meston, C.M., Gorzalka, B.B., & Wright, J.M. (1997). Inhibition of subjective and physiological sexual arousal in women by clonidine. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59, 399-407.
Meston, C.M., & Gorzalka, B.B. (1992). Psychoactive drugs and human sexual behavior: The role of serotonergic activity. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 24, 1-40.
Culture and Sexuality
Another area of research on human sexuality has focused on the role of culture and acculturation on sexual attitudes, experiences, and behaviours.
Published studies from this research include:
Kennedy, M.A., Ip, K., Samra, J., & Gorzalka, B.B. (in press). The role of childhood emotional abuse in disordered eating. Journal of Emotional Abuse.
Brotto, L. A., Chik, H. M., Ryder, A. G., Gorzalka, B. B., & Seal, B. N. (2005). Acculturation and sexual function in Asian women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34, 613-626.
Kennedy, M. A., Parhar, K. K., Samra, J., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2005). Suicide ideation in different generations of immigrants. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 353-356.
Kennedy, M. A., Templeton, L., Gandhi, A., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2004). Asian body image satisfaction: Ethnic and gender differences across Chinese, Indo-Asian and European descent students. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 12, 321-336.
Ip, K., Kennedy, M. A., Samra, J., & Gorzalka, B. B., (2003). Acculturation, family environment, and disordered eating: A comparative study of North American and Asian born Chinese students. Canadian Clinical Psychologist , 14, 11-12.
Kennedy, M. A., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2002). Asian and non-Asian attitudes toward rape, sexual harassment and sexuality. Sex Roles, 46, 227-238.
Meston, C. M., Trapnell, P. D., & Gorzalka, B. B. (1998). Ethnic, gender, and length of residency influences on sexual knowledge and attitudes. Journal of Sex Research, 35, 176-188.
Meston, C. M., Trapnell, P. D., & Gorzalka, B. B. (1996). Ethnic and gender differences in sexuality: Variations in sexual behavior between Asian and nonAsian university students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25, 33-72.
Other Research on Human Sexualtiy
Other studies conducted in this division of the laboratory include studies examining the relationship between body image and sexual experiences, the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum sexual functioning, and the sexual functioning of male-to-female transsexuals following genital reconstruction surgery.
Published studies from this research include:
Brotto, L.A., Gehring, D., Klein, C., Gorzalka, B.B., & Thomson, S. (2005). Psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal to visual sexual stimuli in new women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 26, 237-244.
LaMarre, A.K., Paterson, L.Q., & Gorzalka, B.B. (2003). Breastfeeding and postpartum maternal sexual functioning: A review. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 12, 151-168.
Trapnell, P.D., Meston, C.M., & Gorzalka, B.B. (1997). Spectatoring and the relation between body image and sexual experience: Self-focus or self-valence? Journal of Sex Research, 34, 267-278.