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Table 1: Dopamine Levels Excess Deficient "Normal" Addictions Addictions Motivated Anxiety Depression Feelings of well-being, satisfaction Compulsions Anhedonia (no pleasure; world looks colourless) | Pleasure; reward in accomplishing tasks Sexual fetishes Lack of ambition and drive Healthy libido Sexual addiction Inability to "love" Good feelings towards others Unhealthy risk-taking Low libido Healthy bonding Gambling Erectile dysfunction Healthy risk-taking Compulsive activities No remorse about personal behaviour Sound choices Aggression ADD/ADHD Realistic expectations Psychosis Social anxiety disorder Maternal/paternal love Schizophrenia Sleep disturbances, "restless" legs (Source: http://www.reuniting.info/science/sex_and_addiction) "Normal" Motivated Feelings of well-being, satisfaction Pleasure; reward in accomplishing tasks Healthy libido Good feelings towards others Healthy bonding Healthy risk-taking Sound choices Realistic expectations Maternal/paternal love we may try to prop up our dopamine level by becoming addicted to some kind of food or drug, or by becoming interested in a new sexual partner. Basically, this type of behaviour is the same for humans, primates, mammals and reptiles because it originates from the primitive part of the brain. Further evidence of a lasting post-orgasm hangover comes from sexually exhausted male rats.2 The number of androgen receptors in the hypothalamus declines, reducing the effectivenes: testosterone and changing sexual behaviour. These changes las for about seven days, corresponding to a lack of libido in the rats. In addition to serving as a sexual brake, prolactin affects our moods and behaviour somewhat like a hormone of resignation. For example, caged wild monkeys initially had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol but gradually their prolactin levels rose as they became resigned to their fate. Prolactin levels were highest after seven months. With raised prolactin levels, they do not mate.’ This looks like the same effect that we see in long-term relationships without oxytocin-producing close bonding. the same hen?" "No, sir," answered the farmer. "Please tell that to Mrs Coolidge," said the president. Not only has the Coolidge effect been observed in all tested male animals, but also in females. Female rodents, for instance, flirt more and present themselves more attractively when observed by new males than in the presence of males with whom they had already had sex.’ Another experiment indicates that the cause of this effect may be a rush of dopamine. When rats were taught to pull a lever to stimulate their own reward centre, they would forgo eating and copulating and just continue to stimulate themselves until they were totally exhausted.° The Cuddle Hormone The dopamine system is obviously designed to produce genetic variety by inducing us to mate with as many different partners as possible. There is, however, a hormone that counteracts the emotional rollercoaster effects of dopamine, and that is oxytocin— the cuddle hormone. Oxytocin also counteracts fear, which is associated with high cortisol levels and stress (table 3). Oxytocin leads to strong pair-bonding. In pair-bonded animals, mating—and with this, the dopamine rollercoaster—stops with the rise of prolactin after successful fertilisation, and now oxytocin ensures that both parents co-operate for the survival of their offspring. Humans could do the same: mate only to produce offspring and then abstain from sex. This might produce an emotionally stable relationship for life, but most of us would also find it utterly boring. Paramahansa Yogananda wrote in Autobiography of a Yogi that this is exactly what his parents did. The time-honoured solution to this problem is having loving sex without orgasm. This greatly helps to sustain oxytocin levels without producing the emotionally disruptive high-low neurochemical cycles of orgasm, and it has been practised in Indian Tantra, by the Chinese Taoists and apparently by early Christians. In modern times it has been resurrected as Karezza, The Coolidge Effect In experiments with rats it has been observed that, after vigorous copulation with a new partner, male rats soon completely ignore this partner, but when a new female is introduced they are immediately revitalised—at least sufficiently to become sexually active once more. This can be repeated again and again until the male rat is completely exhausted. * This phenomenon has been called "the Coolidge effect", after US President Calvin Coolidge (http://www.reuniting.info/ science/coolidge_effect). The story goes that on a visit to a farm, his wife was shown a rooster that could copulate with his hens all day long, day after day. She liked that idea and asked the farmer to let the president know about it. After hearing it, President Coolidge thought for a moment and asked, "Does he do that with Table 2: Symptoms Associated with Excess Prolactin Women Men Loss of libido Loss of libido Mood changes; depression Mood changes; depression Hostility; anxiety Impotence Headache Headache Menopausal symptoms, even when oestrogen is sufficient Infertility Signs of increased testosterone level Decreased testosterone level Weight gain Weight gain Intercourse may be painful because of vaginal dryness (Source: http:/Awww.reuniting.info/science/sex_and_addiction) Men Loss of libido Mood changes; depression Impotence Headache Infertility Decreased testosterone level Weight gain 26 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2007 www.nexusmagazine.com