Open AccessRole of the brain in the control of erection
Author(s) -
Temel Yasin,
Hafizi Sepehr,
Tan Sonny,
VisserVandewalle Veerle
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
asian journal of andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1745-7262
pISSN - 1008-682X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2006.00110.x
Subject(s) - thalamus , neuroscience , amygdala , hypothalamus , frontal lobe , temporal lobe , psychology , medicine , epilepsy
In contrast to the spinal control of erection, relatively little is known about the brain control. In the present review, we have outlined the role of brain structures involved in penile erection and provided a synopsis on the brain circuit of erection. Findings from both animal and human studies are discussed. Evidence suggests that the most important structures are the frontal lobe, cingulate gyrus, amygdala, thalamus and hypothalamus. Within the brain circuit of erection, the thalamus serves as a gate‐controller in which all relevant information is evaluated and further processed to higher and lower centres.