To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources for this Assignment.
Assess the following statements:
Statement 1: Sexual Arousal and Motivation
Sexual arousal and sexual motivation are processed by the same brain areas, neurotransmitters, and hormones in men as in women.
Statement 2: Biology and Sexual Orientation
Biological factors influence or determine sexual orientation.
Statement 3: Male Birth Control Pill
It is possible to have a male birth control pill that manipulates hormones in men in similar ways as does the female birth control pill in women.
Based on the statement you selected in the To Prepare section of this Assignment, choose one article from the list below that statement to support your Assignment response:
Statement 1: Sexual Arousal and Motivation
Chung, W. S., Lim, S. M., Yoo, J. H., & Yoon, H. (2013). Gender difference in brain activation to audio-visual sexual stimulation; do women and men experience the same level of arousal in response to the same video clip?Links to an external site. International Journal of Impotence Research, 25(4), 138–142. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2012.47
Georgiadis, J. R., Reinders, A. A. T. S., Paans, A. M. J., Renken, R., & Kortekaas, R. (2009). Men versus women on sexual brain function: Prominent differences during tactile genital stimulation, but not during orgasmLinks to an external site.. Human Brain Mapping, 30(10), 3089–3101. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.20733
Ruesink, G. B., & Georgiadis, J. R. (2017). Brain imaging of human sexual response: Recent developments and future directionsLinks to an external site.. Current Sexual Health Reports, 9(4), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0123-4
Statement 2: Biology and Sexual Orientation
Safron, A., Sylva, D., Klimaj, V., Rosenthal, A. M., & Bailey, J. M. (2020). Neural responses to sexual stimuli in heterosexual and homosexual men and women: Men’s responses are more specificLinks to an external site.. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(2), 433–445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01521-z
Swaab, D. F. (2008). Sexual orientation and its basis in brain structure and functionLinks to an external site.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(30), 10273–10274. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0805542105
Vilain, E. (2000). Genetics of sexual developmentLinks to an external site.. Annual Review of Sex Research, 11(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/10532528.2000.10559783
Votinov, M., Goerlich, K. S., Puiu, A. A., Smith, E., Nickl-Jockschat, T., Derntl, B., & Habel, U. (2021). Brain structure changes associated with sexual orientationLinks to an external site.. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 5078. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84496-z
Statement 3: Male Birth Control Pill
Balbach, M., Rossetti, T., Ferreira, J., Ghanem, L., Ritagliati, C., Myers, R. W., Huggins, D. J., Steegborn, C., Miranda, I. C., Meinke, P. T., Buck, J., & Levin, L. R. (2023). On-demand male contraception via acute inhibition of soluble adenylyl cyclaseLinks to an external site.. Nature Communications, 14(1), Article 637. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36119-6
Nguyen, B. T., Yuen, F., Farrant, M., Thirumalai, A., Fernando, F., Amory, J. K., Swerdloff, R. S., Anawalt, B. D., Blithe, D. L., Long, J. E., Liu, P. Y., Page, S. T., & Wang, C. (2021). Acceptability of the oral hormonal male contraceptive prototype, 11β-methyl-19-nortestosterone dodecylcarbonate (11β-MNTDC), in a 28-day placebo-controlled trialLinks to an external site.. Contraception, 104(5), 531–537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2021.06.009
Assignment
Compose a 2- to 3-page paper in which you:
Identify the statement you selected.
Based on the information you encountered in the Learning Resources and the article you read, complete the steps below for the statement you selected:
Statement 1: Sexual Arousal and Motivation
State whether or not it is possible to determine the biological sex of a person by looking at a brain scan of them while they are sexually aroused. Explain why and include the following in your rationale:
An analysis of what is known about how sexual arousal is processed in the brain (as it relates to your stance)
An explanation of your opinion on whether or not sexual arousal is processed in the same way biologically by males and females
Statement 2: Biology and Sexual Orientation
State whether or not you think it would be possible to tell a person’s sexual orientation from a brain scan or some other technique or test (e.g., EEG, blood test, etc.). Explain why and include the following in your rationale:
An analysis of scientific evidence supporting or denying the idea that biological factors may influence sexual orientation
An evaluation of the strength of the evidence connecting sexual orientation to biological processes (as it relates to your stance)
Statement 3: Male Birth Control Pill
State whether or not you think it is possible to have a male birth control pill that manipulates hormones in men in similar ways as does the female birth control pill in women. Explain why and include the following in your rationale:
An analysis of evidence of biological and social factors that impact the development of a male birth control pill
An evaluation of how a male birth control pill would work, including an explanation of how it would alter biological factors and how close scientists are to developing such a pill for males
Notes:
In your paper, you should address neurobiological factors rather than any religious or moral concerns.
Use what you learned from the article you selected to support your points. Support your Assignment with evidence from the assigned Learning Resources. Provide a reference list for resources you used for this Assignment. Use APA style for in-text citations and references.
Travis, J. (2001). Sperm protein may lead to male pillLinks to an external site.. Science News, 160(15), 228. https://doi.org/10.2307/4012919Re
Readings for Assgnment
Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2022). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). SAGE.
Chapter 7, “The Biology of Sex and Gender”
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Psychology topics: Sexual orientation and gender diversityLinks to an external site.. https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq
Korducki, K. (2010). Take a pill, dude: Money, not science, is the reason a men’s birth control pill hasn’t appearedLinks to an external site.. THIS, 44(3), 7.
Ringheim, K. (2022, April 29). Opinion: Men probably would take a birth control pillLinks to an external site.. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/29/men-probably-would-take-birth-control-pill/
Science Vs. (2022, November 3). The male pill: When is it coming?Links to an external site. [Audio podcast]. Gimlet. https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/llhw46r/the-male-pill-when-is-it-coming
