On 20 Nov 2002, Jean-Marc Perreault wrote:
(Holmes, 2001...{says]
> "in physiologically normal males erection occurs
> occasionnally during periods of REM sleep".
>
> Now, my surprise is to read about how erections occur
> "occasionally" during REM sleep. In Meyers' Intro to
> Psych textbook Psychology(2001) he reports that
> "During REM sleep, your genitals become aroused and
> you have an erection or increased vaginal
> lubrication...". He goes on to say that "a typical 25
> year old male has an erection during nearly half his
> night's sleep".
>
> Who is right? Meyers or Holmes? My understanding has
> always been that genitals become aroused during all
> REM sleep periods, unless there is a physiological
> dysfunction.
>
> Anyone has the answer to that one?
I modestly rise to the occasion. According to Karacan et al (1983),
"NPT [nocturnal penile tumescence] occurs naturally and regularly
during sleep in all healthy boys and men; most of the time it is
temporally related to rapid-eye-movement sleep [ref omitted]."
They also say " Sleep-related erections are entirely natural events,
and because they occur predictably and reliably in all healthy men,
they are always available for study. [convenient!] Their duration (an
average of 30 minutes per episode in young adults) is comparable to
that of sexual erections, and allows ample time for dynamic studies
of the erectile process".
I believe Karacan is a well-known authority in the field and,
although one shouldn't be too rigid about such matters, his
pronouncement seems authoritative. So if I had to choose between
"occasionally" or "always", Karacan's descriptor "regularly". not to
mention "predictably and reliably", inclines me to the latter, and
so supports Meyers.
Stephen
Karacan, I. et al (1983). Erectile mechanisms in man [and for once,
this use of the term can't be considered sexist]. Science, 220,
1080- 1082.
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