More on endorphins
Endorphins may be – at least to a certain extent – one of the things erotic power exchange revolves around. Although it is way too early for any scientific conclusions yet, it is obvious they play an important role in erotic power exchange scenes. Although endorphins are relatively “new” to the medical world – and even more so to psychologists and psychiatrists – it is quite generally acknowledged they play an important part in both our physical and psychological reactions.

Endorphins have always existed in the human body. They are not just one chemical substance, but a group of substances that have the same or interconnecting properties. They were first identified in the mid-1970′s. This group of peptides which are composed of amino acids have offered some explanation of how systems are coordinated in the human body. But their greatest significance, until today, may prove to be the linking of the immune and endocrine systems with the mind into one psycho-immuno-endocrine system. Endorphins are a complex set of hormones, released primarily by the pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain).

In 1973, John Hughes tried to identify a “Substance X” at Marishal College in Aberdeen, Scotland which could satisfy the requirements for the body’s own morphine-like substance. His mentor in Aberdeen was Hans Kosterlitz. They made progress and called their Substance X encephalon. But there were other researchers. They all were mainly trying to identify an opiate receptor in the human body; effectively a lock into which morphine could fit and activate responses.

It soon became clear that there was a group of chemicals in the brain and body which had properties similar to morphine. At a 1975 meeting in Airlie House In Virginia (U.S.) a New York receptor researcher coined the name endorphins (the morphine within) for all the brain produced substances with opiate properties. The ‘e’ was dropped later and ENDORPHINS were popularized by the world’s media.

Acupuncture
Initially, the endorphins were – and still very much are – looked at and researched from the pain control angle and some papers identified that acupuncture stimulated the production of endorphins. This what gave acupuncture its first scientific respectability, however only in the area of pain control.

Slowly it became clear that there were profound and diverse roles for the endorphins. The runner’s high was attributed to endorphins and as more and more functions were identified, Candace Pert an endorphin researcher stated: “Endorphins are mood chemicals playing an important role in human healing processes.”

Impulses
Endorphins do seem to explain a lot of things, including the phenomena of patients and sports people being able to exclude pain sensation by mental power only. It has since become clear that the brain produces different (“cocktails” of) endorphins based on different impulses. These impulses can be external (such as a pain impulse) as well as created by the brain itself. In an erotic power exchange situation it is very likely – although this has yet to be researched properly – that both physical and mental impulses play a role in the production and release of endorphins by the brain.

This theory would at least provide one scientific explanation for the importance of fantasies in erotic power exchange play as well as for the obvious interaction between fantasies and the real live action. Another effect that is yet to be researched is the influence of the adrenaline hormones on the production of endorphins. The current theory is that where adrenaline amongst other effects causes a higher state of awareness, it is quite likely that this higher state of awareness causes an increased production of certain (groups of) endorphins. Thinking along the lines of this theory, that might also explain why orgasms during or as a result of an erotic power exchange scene are at least “different” (usually either more intense or violent or both) from other orgasms, since the orgasm itself is one of the “events triggering adrenaline production”.

Next, since endorphins at least seem to be “mood chemicals” other extra impulses, such as fantasy, symbolism, smell (like the smell of leather which is very significant to many erotic power exchange people), fetishes and direct physical and mental impulses such as pain, humiliation, discomfort, helplessness and others may very well be intertwined with or connected to the effects of the endorphins themselves.

Endorphins have scientifically proven to have effects on all sorts of physical and mental processes. To name just a few of these (with any possible connection or relation to erotic power exchange): effects on the central nervous system and peripheral analgesia and pain modulation, effects on the nero-endocrine control of reproduction, stress, spontaneous behavior and motivation.

The very latest development in the endorphins researches seems to point to two different methods for endorphins release. Next to the method, described here, where the endorphins seem to have a predominantly nero-transmitter function triggering moods and emotions, there also seems to be a second method, where endorphins are released in more or less random “fountains”, seemingly allowing the brain to just register and enjoy external impulses, without interpreting and analyzing them. That would predominantly happen in young children and could explain the fact that young children do not immediately respond to impulses, other than just enjoying them. This theory would also explain the pure “enjoying without interpreting” stage adults can experience during extreme kicks, such as riding a roller coaster, skydiving and of course erotic power exchange. It is, however, to early to draw any firm conclusions in this area.

Genetic influences and other hormones
It is slowly becoming apparent that at least part of our sexual preferences are genetically encoded. Proof for this is found in the fact that certain genetic information is encoded in the DNA of homosexual men and is unavailable in heterosexual men. There is some very early research available on this subject, although a lot still has be researched further before any real answers will emerge.

It is obvious however that at least some it can be found in genes known as “BRCA1″ and “BRCA2″. Both these DNA strings however unfortunately are currently best known for the fact that they seem to have an influence on breast cancer. Hence the entire research in this field is focused on this aspect. “BRCA1″ is the string that is found in homosexual men but not in heterosexual men, which would suggest at least part of the sexually related preferential information is in there. Several other bits and pieces of genetic information, including the development of certain power related elements, can be found in other DNA strings. How all this ties in together however is yet unclear.

GnRH hormone
Very new information however is the following: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), having a highly conserved structure across mammalian species, plays a pivotal role in the control of the neuroendocrine events and the inherent sexual behaviors essential for reproductive function. Recent advances in molecular genetic technology have contributed greatly to the investigation of several aspects of GnRH physiology, particularly steroid hormone and neurotransmitter regulation of GnRH gene expression. Behavioral studies have focused on the actions of GnRH in steroid-sensitive brain regions to understand better its role in the facilitation of mating behavior.

Here it becomes interesting for several reasons. To say it in simple terms, next to adrenaline and endorphins, there is a third group of hormones that not only has a direct influence on our behavior, but these also seem to “read” and “interpret” genetically encoded sexual information.

Just like endorphins GnRH are produced in the center of the human brain. To be exact in the hypothalamus. The next-door neighbor of this part of the brain is the thalamus (the “pain gate”) which is controlled by the release of endorphins. Since there seems to be an interaction between these two neighboring parts of the brain, it seems there is a connection here. Thalamus and hypothalamus together form the part of the brain called diencephalons – in simple terms the “switchboard” between the brain and the nervous system. The nervous system is constantly transmitting millions of signals to the brain. The vast majority of these are normal and do not need the attention of the consciousness. The diencephalons (in computer terms call that a co-processor or background processor since it improves the efficiency of the brain/mainframe) makes these decisions and – as you can see – operates much along the lines of “management by exception”. In other words the brain is not pro-active but re-active in this area and will wait for an acute signal (of danger, pain, stress, humiliation, discomfort, cold, anything) to start operating and responding. Whenever such a situation occurs, the pituitary gland, in response to the stimulus secretes a hormone called adrenocortocotropin (ACTH). This in turn stimulates the adrenal medulla gland to secrete norepinephrine (a.k.a. noradrenaline) and epinephrine (a.k.a. adrenaline). That will stimulate the production of endorphins. Endorphins in their turn are both produced by and control the function of the diencephalons, in other words both hypothalamus and thalamus. So since the hypothalamus produces GnRH, here is where the connection is.

Gonadotropin by itself is also a hormone, that is responsible for all sorts of secondary sex characteristics, including the swelling of the penis, hardening of the nipples, but also the difference in pitch between the male and female voice. This hormone also controls the female cycle and two other emotions that tie in directly with EPE-behavior: protectiveness towards the partner and territorial defense.

Last but certainly not least the release of gonadotropin triggers the production of steroid hormones (amongst others the male sex hormone testosterone and the female counterpart of estrogen). To keep it plain and simple and very unscientific – there appears to be a direct links between endorphins (a.k.a. “emotion amino acids”) and the production of steroid hormones. Since we know some of the endorphins trigger direct EPE related emotions such as responses to pain, humiliation, uncertainty, love and affection, here seems to be a direct hormonal link between these emotions and sexual arousal. Why this happens with some people and not with others is probably the question that will eventually be found somewhere in the DNA-encoding.

Final bit of information – steroid hormones again trigger the production of another group of hormones: pheromones. These are released in the form of a gas and you can (and do) smell them. These are well known for the part they play in sexual arousal. Pheromones are predominantly produced by the human male. The human female – as a result of evolution – has largely lost the ability to produce pheromones. Their function is replaced by …. perfume.

The above article is a reprint from our information/educational site Kink Culture.
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