Neural underpinnings of prosexual effects induced by gamma-hydroxybutyrate in healthy male humans
Oliver G. Bosch, Michael M. Havranek, A Baumberger, Katrin H. Preller, Robin von Rotz, Marcus Herdener, Rainer Kraehenmann, Philipp Staempfli, Milan Scheidegger, Tim Klucken, Erich Seifritz, Boris B. Quednow
European Neuropsychopharmacology March 8, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.02.006 via OpenAlex
Summary
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a drug used for narcolepsy and abused recreationally, has prosexual effects in healthy men. In two double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments, GHB increased subjective sexual arousal and desire, and made sexually neutral images of people seem arousing. Brain scans showed that GHB boosted activity in reward regions like the nucleus accumbens when viewing erotic pictures, and increased connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The findings indicate GHB enhances hedonic sexual functioning and lowers the threshold for perceiving erotic cues by sensitizing mesolimbic reward pathways.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Healthy males |
| Intervention | Gamma-hydroxybutyrate |
| Dose | 20 and 35 mg/kg |
| Keywords | Sexual arousal Psychology Nucleus accumbens Gamma hydroxybutyrate Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key finding | GHB increases subjective sexual arousal and desire, and lowers the threshold for erotic perception by sensitizing mesolimbic reward pathways. |
Abstract
-receptor agonist currently used as treatment for narcolepsy but also as a drug of abuse. Non-medical GHB users have repeatedly reported prosexual effects including libido-enhancement and lowering of attractiveness standards for partner selection. Here, we examined the putative prosexual effects of oral GHB in healthy males in two experiments both employing randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, balanced, and cross-over study designs. In experiment I, subjective effects of 20 and 35mg/kg GHB vs. placebo were tested in 32 participants using the Sexual Arousal and Desire Inventory. In experiment II, brain reactivity towards erotic vs. neutral pictures was investigated in 15 participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging after 35mg/kg GHB vs. placebo. In experiment I, prosexual effects of GHB were shown by increased SADI ratings regarding physiological, evaluative, and motivational aspects of sexual arousal. In experiment II, erotic visual stimuli activated the bilateral insula, nucleus accumbens (NAcc), fusiform gyrus, thalamus, and left occipital pole under placebo. After GHB administration, even sexually neutral pictures of persons induced subjective sexual arousal and increased activation of the bilateral NAcc and right anterior cingulate cortex, which significantly correlated (left NAcc by trend). Moreover, a psychophysiological interaction analysis showed that GHB increased connectivity between NAcc and ventromedial prefrontal cortex during processing of visual erotic cues, i.e., in the condition in which subjective sexual arousal was highest. Our data show that GHB stimulates hedonic sexual functioning and lowers the threshold for erotic perception, which is related to increased susceptibility of mesolimbic reward pathways.