Abstract
Background: Sex flushes, the color changes in face and body accompanying high sexual arousal, has not been experimentally investigated yet. Other colorations of the skin known as blushing are usually triggered by various emotional responses.
The continuity of these two phenomena is not known. The aim of our study was to test thermal and color changes during sexual and emotional imagery.
Methods: So far, 21 women (mean age = 23.9, SD=4.9) has participated. Color and thermal reactions in face and neck were assessed using thermocamera Testo 885-1 and regular camera in standardized conditions (black tent, no make-up, dressed in black fabric, covered hair).
To synchronize colors, we used calibration targets X-RITE ColorChecker Passport. After 15 minute of calibration (baseline), women went through directed imagination (leaded by trained expert).
They were leaded to imagine 5 different situations: embarrassment, pride, courtship, body focused sexual arousal and sexual fantasy. Content of imagery was based on their own experiences, order of situations was randomized.
Analysis: For each condition, the moment with the strongest observed emotion was chosen for analysis. The pictures of each women in this moment were calibrated and modified in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
The temperature and color was examined in six selected regions (ROIs) in face and neck - forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth and upper chest. Thermocamera outputs were analyzed in software IrSoft 4.0.
Results: All experimental situations caused changes in redness and temperature (tested by ANOVA). The significant temperature changes to baseline was measured in all areas in embarrassing and body focused sexual arousal situation (all p > .001); in the area of nose (p=.031) and mouth (p=.048) during sexual fantasy; in all areas except for neck in courtship situation; and in all areas except for forehead in pride situation.
The significant changes in redness were found in all areas in both sexual conditions and courtship situation (all p > .001); in all areas except for forehead in embarrassing situation; and in all areas except for nose in pride situation. Changes also occurred in yellow part of the color spectrum.
Pearson correlation analysis didn't show any significant relation between temperature and color changes. Conclusion: Our exploratory study showed that all experimental situations triggered temperature and color changes in face.
Changes in redness were visible and therefore can serve as a signal for recognizing of emotional state and sexual arousal of communication partner.