Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
14:24
An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze
Published on: July 29, 2025
1.8K
Arousal, working memory capacity, and sexual decision-making in men
Tara Spokes1, Donald W Hine, Anthony D G Marks
1School of Behavioural Cognitive and Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|April 4, 2014
Summary
Working memory capacity moderates sexual decision-making in men. Lower capacity amplifies arousal
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Sexual decision-making is complex.
- Physiological arousal can influence behavior.
- Working memory capacity (WMC) is crucial for executive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if WMC moderates the link between physiological arousal and sexual decision-making in men.
- To explore the role of executive functioning in sexual aggression.
Main Methods:
- 59 men viewed consensual and non-consensual sexual imagery.
- Physiological arousal measured via skin conductance response.
- Assessed WMC and performance on a date-rape analogue task.
Main Results:
- Higher arousal to non-consensual imagery correlated with later stopping points on the analogue task.
- This relationship was significant only for men with lower WMC.
- Men with high WMC showed no link between arousal and stopping point.
Conclusions:
- Executive functioning, specifically WMC, plays a critical role in moderating men's sexual decision-making.
- WMC may inhibit the influence of physiological arousal on decisions related to sexual aggression.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Optimal Arousal Theory
1.3K
The optimal arousal theory suggests that performance is maximized when an individual experiences a moderate level of arousal. This theory is closely tied to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which illustrates an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal and performance. The law, formulated by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson, implies an ideal arousal level for optimal performance, and deviations from this level can lead to declines in effectiveness.
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
1.3K
01:17Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation
31.3K
Sexual stimulation can take various forms, such as physical touch and visual or auditory cues. When this happens, the parasympathetic reflex in the sacral portion of the spinal cord is activated. This reflex stimulates the release of nitric oxide (NO), which then dilates the arterioles in the penis, increasing blood flow to the erectile tissues - the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
31.3K
01:24Working Memory
1.3K
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
1.3K
01:20Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
5.2K
Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....
5.2K
01:24Primary Motives: Sleep, Sex, and Pain Avoidance
8.1K
Primary motives such as sleep, sex, and pain avoidance are crucial drivers of behavior in humans and animals. These motives ensure survival, reproductive success, and overall well-being by prompting actions that meet essential bodily needs.
Sleep is a fundamental physiological drive that fosters a state of restfulness crucial for several bodily functions. It facilitates body restoration, the process by which the body repairs, rejuvenates, and maintains itself during sleep, including memory...
Sleep is a fundamental physiological drive that fosters a state of restfulness crucial for several bodily functions. It facilitates body restoration, the process by which the body repairs, rejuvenates, and maintains itself during sleep, including memory...
8.1K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.5K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.5K