Psychological and Mental Factors Involved in Achieving Erections
May 25th, 2007 by 
Eric
The process of achieving an erection is a very complex one involving multiple inputs from various areas of the brain and the nervous system (spinal cord). The nervous system plays a very important role in penile erection. The nervous system is involved in the creation of an erection and process of ejaculation itself. The first part of the penile erection is controlled by the brain and is referred to as a psychogenic erection and occurs in any sort of mental or erotic stimulation. However erections of the penis can also be caused by stimulation of the skin of the penis alone (e.g. by touch), this sort of erection is known as a reflexogenic erection. Erections of this sort occur more commonly in men who have damaged their spinal cord and are unable to achieve an erection unless physically stimulated.
The Brain plays a big part in regulating sex drive and in a mans ability to achieve erections. A part of the brain known as the limbic system is very important in psychogenic erections; it is the part of the brain responsible for processing sexual thoughts. These sexual thoughts are processed in and handled by the limbic system in the brain. They are then passed along to the penis via the spinal cord. There are numerous connections between the spinal cord and the penis; they go from the spinal cord to the penis (efferent connections) and from the penis to the spinal cord (afferent connections). These nerves from the spinal cord play an important part in controlling erections. For this reason it is important that these nerves receive sufficient input from higher centres (such as the limbic system in the brain). If a man loses his ability to process sexual thoughts in the brain and is unable to pass these signals along the spinal cord to his penis, it can result in his impotence; this is referred to as psychogenic impotence (impotence due to a psychological cause). This problem can usually be corrected with psychological help. If you are really concerned and feel as though your erectile dysfunction could be due to a psychological cause then it is advised you go and speak to your General Practitioner (GP) who will be able to give you the necessary advice and information.
