Laser Doppler Imaging as a Measure of Female Sexual Arousal: Further Validation and Methodological Considerations

Biol Psychol. 2019 Nov:148:107741. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107741. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Abstract

Laser Doppler imaging has recently been applied to the study of female sexual response, with promising results. The current study sought to provide further validation for its use in this capacity, as well as to examine the sexual psychophysiological concepts of genital non-response and return to baseline with this instrument. A sample of healthy heterosexual women without any sexual concerns (N = 24) participated in a single testing session design, which included self-report measures and genital imaging with the laser Doppler imager (LDI). During the imaging portion of the study, genital and subjective arousal data were collected while participants watched neutral and erotic film stimuli. The results support the validity of the LDI as a measure of female sexual arousal, and highlight its potential utility in research and clinical applications for sexual function and related difficulties.

Keywords: Laser Doppler imaging; Measurement of female genital arousal; Sexual arousal; Sexual psychophysiology; Sexual response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal / physiology*
  • Female
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Heterosexuality / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / methods*
  • Plethysmography / methods
  • Self Report
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Vagina / blood supply
  • Vagina / diagnostic imaging

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