Philosophical fancies aside, the intricacies of the human heart are known most plainly to chemists.
We can spend years musing about the psychological precursor to our tastes or behavior, but can often learn as much in minutes from a scientific explanation. And while the full complexity of conscious experience is mysterious and unknown, there are clear links between certain chemicals and our most basic drives – explaining, for example, why we feel horny one moment and mellowed another, or why our sex drives are highest after exercise.
At the core of sexual pursuit are the yin and yang of lust, two vastly different substances but with complimentary roles of switching desire on and off: dopamine and prolactin. They regulate more than sex, but for our purposes we can summarize; dopamine plays a central role in generating horniness – while prolactin shuts it down.
Chances are you’re familiar with the effects of each. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter and relatively small molecule, is your brain’s sense of pleasure and reward. It fires when we see a pretty face, taste sugar, puff a cigarette, or touch skin-to-skin. When your dopamine levels are highest, sex is number one on the agenda, sometimes by so much that you’ll have lower-than-normal interest in food or sleep.
Novel situations can increase dopamine releases; hooking up with someone for the first time triggers especially high levels (which won’t occur during subsequent hookups with the same person), while falling in love with someone new can sustain high dopamine levels for a long time. The first situation explains the one-night-stand phenomenon; it’s why you can be attracted to someone at first encounter but not afterward, the second explains why physical infatuation is at its peak in the beginning months of a relationship. Dopamine floods the brain when you get drunk or take certain drugs, which is why drinking alcohol can make other guys look more attractive.
Prolactin is dopamine’s foil, causing its levels to plummet. Prolactin is a hormone, a molecular giant compared to dopamine, made of almost 200 connected amino acids. It floods the body during ejaculation, and its effect is to shut the sex drive off (allowing the human primate to eat and sleep and care for other things than reproduction). It can temporarily kill off the ability to have an erection. The experience of it is pleasurable; the happy, relaxed state after an orgasm is partially an effect of prolactin. It’s the exact release women get while breastfeeding; the word “pro-lactin” directly indicates its role in her production of milk.
Prolactin primes the mind for long-term attachment – a role that helps the mother bond with her suckling child as well as lovers to each other – which means that if you stick around cuddling with your partner right after sex, you might start to like him more and more. But prolactin’s dopamine-reducing action cancels the tolerance you may have for his flaws; if your one-time hookup is not really your type, your interest in being around him will suddenly disappear after you cum and you’ll want to get out of his bed – or at least slide over to the far end of it – as soon as possible.
While dopamine and prolactin are good indicators of the thoughts in person’s brain in the moment, it is testosterone that best explains long-term changes in courtship and pursuit. Testosterone is responsible for the masculinization of an adolescent body during puberty, and increases the dopamine levels that regulate sex drive. But testosterone leaves its fingerprint on the body as much as the brain, catalyzing changes in skin tone, fat distribution, musculature and demeanor to signal to others when an individual is sexually mature and in good health.
Testosterone is a good signal because its levels fluctuate over the course of a month, year, or lifetime. If you get a fever or become depressed, your testosterone levels can drop significantly. Drastically reducing nutrition or experiencing anxiety or stress does the same. The most immediate effect of low testosterone is probably a decrease in libido, as well as a noticeable drop-off in energy levels or confidence. Since testosterone can also serve as a subtle signal to mates, a guy in the midst of any of these issues can temporarily appear a little less attractive to people subconsciously seeking confident, dominant high-testosterone men.
Sexual desire is still more complicated than is known to science, and there may be multiple archetypes of partners we’re drawn to – there is evidence that aggressive high-testosterone men appear sexier to women (or gay men) for a one-night stand, but softer, more sensitive balanced men are more likely to tug at our heartstrings in a relationship. Scientists have reasoned that the bulkier mate is more likely to be physically powerful and carry good genes to create strong children, while the slimmer guy is a more loving, reliable partner likely to help raise the kids so they survive to adulthood. The effect of this strange contradiction seems to be a biological impulse toward adultery.
But a man is not necessarily set in a role based on his testosterone level. The hormone’s levels increase when he is in a competitive environment or carries out acts of aggression, which can explain how guys seem to bulk up quickly when they go to prison or join sports teams. They decrease when he feels intimidated or humiliated, which might explain why a lot of us who got picked on at school stayed skinny and mild-mannered compared to our peers, which made us easy targets and only increased our likelihood to be bullied. Primate colonies that have huge alpha males looming over a population of smaller, submissive males and females seems to be a template for this, not a perfect parallel to human social groups, but explaining how a social environment can be a precursor to physical body changes. In humans, testosterone levels also drop during long-term relationships, giving the male brain a sense of stability and mellowness, easing off the drive to forage for new sexual partners.
Testosterone is highest in the morning, and wanes throughout the day. It’s also much higher in men in autumn and lowest in the spring.
The easiest way to boost testosterone is to lift heavy weights, activating as much muscle tissue as possible – so if your goal is to increase testosterone to tone up your chest, by no means should you skip working your back or thighs too. And its not unknown for men to feel huge surges in sex drive immediately after going to the gym.
Science alone lacks a moral element, and fails to explain, in a modern context, why we should desire to be masculine, aggressive, potent or dominant men in the first place. In nature, the alpha-male is the most likely to reproduce genetically, but that isn’t what gives our lives value today. We might get more depth of experience out of being an average male who falls in love and becomes a caretaker. And in the modern world its probably the more stable and sensitive man who is most likely to sire children.
Still, the science gives important clues to what’s going on in our minds and our partners’ minds. A lot of our basic inclinations are out of our control, but when we know what causes them or what to expect, we can work with them for the best outcome.
So that explains why I’m so aroused after the gym. I thought it was the hot guys in the change room — although I suppose the two aren’t mutually exclusive!
“…higher in men in autumn and lowest in the spring.”
I found this extremely surprising. During the spring quarter
on campus, everyone goes into “spring fever” mode. Everyone’s
wardrobe becomes noticeably looser, scantier, and suggestive.
Parties start to crop up at an alarming rate and academics ride
backseat to the new, more pressing priority: getting laid.
Seasonally, I prefer autumn. Growing up in Texas, I’ve grown
to dislike hot weather.
But it may be just my testosterone.
The idea of a Pleasure response to sucking on a CANCER STICK (as if it was a pre-disposed condition) is utterly vile. This was an interesting site two years ago …What happened ?
Wonderful post, surely one of the best on here. So I disagree with Austrev, cigarettes do cause cancer, incidentally they also boost pleasure. It doesn’t condemn the rest of the post, and you could be more open minded about smoking – it’s not the end of the world.
I absolutely love the last two alineas. Very philosophic, for a post that leaves “philosophical fancies aside”.
Um, you’re gonna get off to pics of a guy sucking on another dude’s asshole, and then have the nerve to call someone who smokes on a cigarette (which does, in fact, release dopamine) “vile?” because that’s gross to you?
Since when was Nightcharm all about being revolted by other people’s habits? Since two years ago, I guess.
How stupid. That cigarettes trigger a pleasure response in the brain is a FACT (and an obvious one at that–why do you think it’s so addictive?) and has nothing to do with endorsing the habit. For fuck’s sake.
Now now, boys. Maybe Austrev just needs a good jolt of prolactin.
Anyway, Great article! Sex and Smarts are my two favorite things.
Who are the gorgeous guys in the pictures?
Like “L”, I too find low testosterone levels in spring contradicting to what my body feels. Living on the other side of the globe in Scandinavia, a warm spring after a long and dark winter is all about waking up to living, and reproducing. Autumn is totally opposite to spring. Could it be some other hormone than testosterone?
The spring/fall cycle is a simplification of the actual male testosterone cycle, which goes through a number of peaks and valleys through the year. There isn’t a lot of sourced information about it on the Internet so the cycles may actually not be so concrete, but here’s how one study published by the endocrine society put it:
“Total testosterone in Tromsø men showed a seasonal bimodal distribution, with the lowest levels in summer (June through August), a small peak in the late winter, and a higher, more prominent peak in the fall. The seasonal pattern for the free testosterone nadir was similar, with the lowest levels in summer and the peak somewhat later in December”
This is indicating a difference between total testosterone and bioavailable testosterone, which makes the whole thing really conmplicated; if this article had gone into that much scientific detail about every topic it would have been pages and pages long, so I guess you do the best you can with the space you have.
I think a good thing to remember is that the annual testosterone cycle is not as proment as the daily testosterone cycle, or effects of certain personal behaviors (such as whether or not you’re getting enough sleep) on testosterone, so when you feel a certain way during a certain time of year think of what you, personally, do during that time, which will probably have a bit more of an impact on what you feel.
And yes, there are countless other hormones in your body that can compete or react with testosterone and they all have their own cycles.
Sorry Girls- Sucked in (Not off) the whole piece is just puff (Or Pooff) if you will-a pointless rambling rave -replete with unsubstantiated pseudoscience–that stinks of phony pheromones & tobbacco smoke……. Bite Me! -but don’t Smoke-YOUR COCK WILL DROP OFF!
how can you promote homosexuality in such a delicious way without some kind of abstinence or include articles about sexual health topics which focuses on a high rise in HIV infections world wide and safe sex ? Do you think Nightcharm contributes to sexual promiscuity and one night stand mentality.
Here Here! Zack- No interest in the “bareback” Sickness insane belief that A.I.D.S. is over –NIGHTCHARM is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Who would reply to such valid questions?-The author of past comments-not likley–that might costs $$–the producer of this spot (This is one of many)-not likley-Perhaps
noone these sites are auto set most of the time… so what do you think….?
Gee I always respect “Anononymus” commemts.
Only in it for the dough, huh? Really, is that why we offer well-written articles and high-quality art here for free? And have done so since, oh, the Year One?
As for the subject of AIDS. We are not sex cops, nor are we the abstinence brigade. We will not be running THIS ARTICLE MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH over our every reverie on the subject
And why not? AIDS is no longer an obscure disease and hasn’t been for the last 20 years. Our readers, as a longtime affected population, are well versed in this subject — or as well versed as they want to be. Let us repeat that: AS WELL VERSED AS THEY WANT TO BE. We respect that decision. And while AIDS has been mentioned many times over the years here at Nightcharm, it has always been within a larger context. We have not made AIDS education our mission, and see no need for such a policy.
Information — good solid medical information — is redundantly available, on the web, in health pamphlets and so forth. AIDS is real, our readers are adults, and we have never wanted to be policemen. Dressing like cops, play-acting The Nasty Cop and the Pleading Twink in the Drunk Tank, different story entirely. But policing morality, not our thing at all, Jack.
Here’s the take-home: Nightcharm is not about “No.” Nightcharm is about “Yes.” A “Yes” that is directed at intelligent readers who are over the age of 18.
You are not the smoking police or the lung-cancer brigade either, apparently.
Excellent, highly relevatory, highly useful post. Science for the win.
very good!!!
Seriously, Austrev? You don’t like cigarettes, so as a result of their mention in this article, you conclude that the whole thing must be false? And both you and Zack conclude that, because the article mentions the human tendency to engage in promiscuous behavior, that this site must be promoting unhealthy habits? What illogical, simple-minded reactionism.
The information in this article isn’t pseudoscience — and it isn’t even all that novel. This stuff has been known for years, some of it since the time of Kinsey. And while smoking might be repulsive, it DOES in fact induce pleasure and stimulate the release of certain neurotransmitters, as do all drugs. That’s why people do them! One of major results of physical addiction is that the brain actually stops producing such chemicals as serotonin and dopamine absent the presence of the drug of choice. That’s why addicts experience intense withdrawal symptoms and have such difficulty quitting — they’ve screwed with their brain’s chemistry to the point that they literally can’t function properly without their habit.
Does all of this mean that cigarettes and drugs are good? OF COURSE NOT. It just means that they make those who use them feel good (at least in the beginning) — and it’s incredibly ridiculous to jump from that unequivocal fact to, “YOU MUST BE PROMOTING SMOKING!!!!!!!!! OMG YOU’RE SO TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! THE STUFF ON THIS WEBSITE IS ALL LIES AND IS NO LONGER INTERESTING TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!”
my god, take your head out of your asses..they were simply stating a fact, not trying to promote smoking…if someone were to read the article and think hum, i’ll take up smoking..not knowing what we all know to be true..it causes cancer..truly, a village somewhere is missing their fucking idiot! and money? as wonderful as this site is…the superb quality…to think it’s a nonprofit org. means your village is sick with worry over your whereabouts…
keep it up nightcharm, as usual, fantastic article…& to state the obvious, if all you nay-sayers have such disdain …stay the fuck away..
Nightcharm the ONLY not for profit Gay Semi-Porn website!!!!
How much have you donated to the Australian bushfire appeal?—Not your kind of Smoke?
Heres the “Take Home” Nightcharm is about the Subscriptions $$$ This is not a Group of Carmelite Nuns doing Gay Missionary work—GET REAL NIGHTCHARM -We are not all conned by Gay Indignation GROW UP! the quality loss is obvious–You must thank your stars for people like me ‘who at least stir up interest on an otherwise pedestrian site.
I liked the bumper sticker I saw a few years ago: “Drink ’til he’s cute”.
As for the Autumn testosterone levels peaking, seems very similar to deer stags growing antlers that time of year due to increased testosterone and the mating season. Of course, real men grow horns all year round.
shhhhh
I still can’t figure out exactly what that Austrev guy is talking about – has anyone else?
Is he suggesting cigarette companies are paying off Nightcharm for this article?
He said Nightcharm was an “interesting site two years ago” but then proceeds to bash the way it funds or sustains itself, which has not changed in that time.
He thinks Nightcharm should “thank its stars” for folks like him who stir up controversy – um yeah, as if I, or anyone else, logs on to the site to read the COMMENTS, hoping for trolls or flame wars started by bitter readers.
You know, Austrev, there’s this thing called “Getting Your Own Fucking Blog”.
Do us all a favor and shut the fuck up with your pedantic, inane, poorly-written rambling.
Dear Tread, I am sure that in your life time ,many people have tried to encourage you with the concept that you are a member of society a & not a HITLER Sucking WHO Thinks YOU CONTROL The WORLD I WILL SHOUT MY OPINION _LOUD AND LONG __MISPELLED OR OTHERWISE ___TREAD YOU ARE A USELESS PIECE —Wasn’t Your NICKNAME “:PRINCESS TINY MEAT”
Anom YOU SAID WHAT?
Come on Girls this is too easy…
The only beef I have with NIGHTCHARM is over their ban policy…quite frankly I’d rather be proselytized by carmelite-nuns-turned-Mormans, begged for money by the movement-to-build-DubbahUDubbahU’s library or [and this one I actually pray for nightly..] be hit on for sex by just about anyone rather than read even one more rambling supposition by our illustrious author, Austrev…though don’t be too hard on him guys, English is obviously not his first or second language…parle Francaise Austrev?
Keep up the good work Nightcharm…
ceg
I wonder if all the bitchy, queenly arguing, like a bunch chimpanzees in high school, vying for dominant mail (or post), has gotten anyones testosterone up? Who wants to fuck? Maybe todays topic should be, “See how fags are. Lets fight about something so we can feel like men and fuck”.
there is way too much negativity on here. whats with that? shouldn’t this be a happy forum? I mean really. think about what we’re looking at and reading about. and then some sexy shots of marvin and andreas. I’d let em…anyway… hell yeah, go science… oh yeah, and on a side note, I always wanna screw when I go to the gym. stop reading here if you don’t wanna read some really homo shit. I like to shoot water up my butt before I go to the gym, get a good workout in with my gym buddy who’s also my fuckbuddy, then get home and wrestle around on the bed and smell each others nuts and be able to fuck right then and there cos i already cleaned out my ass. I dig that. he does too. I’m pretty sure his dick likes it too… it’s easy to be motivated to go to the gym when you’ve got a situation like that as a reward. sexual motivation. try it. J
Haha that is the hottest story Jride, and I love that not only do we get such a great visual depiction of your workout life but also a link back to your myspace profile so we have a face to put it to.
I think you’re absolutely right, this is a fun and pleasant issue.
hi. its my first time in this site, i just join the forum to have an idea about how’s the feeling of being closet gay…. Im 28 years old now.. but i dont have experience being with man in bed.. because im afraid of something that can destroy my image, I am bi sex, I have a girl friend but inside of me, its says i like mature gay, or mature bisex. I dont admire men uder 35 years old. but when i saw matured men 40 up, I feel something different with them, i feel im draeming to be wwith mature men having sex and fuck, and suck.. visiting some mature gay site is is the way of mine to comes out of being really me.. and im hoping that someday i can find a mmature men that i can be with..
thanks.
Prolactin levels actually rise b/c dopamine has plummeted – dopamine inhibits prolactin secretion. That’s why some psych/antidepressant meds screw with libido.