The Kinky Brain - The Neuroscience of BDSM
This book will explore questions about BDSM from a scientific perspective.
Hyperlinks are to drafts of the chapters in the blog.
© 2023 by Hermes Solenzol. Copyright Office Preregistration number PRE000012751.
Table of Contents
Part 1 - The Basics
BDSM Explained to the Vanilla
BDSM Is Not Science, It’s an Art!
Kinks, Squicks and Kink-Shaming
Why Do Sadists Like to Inflict Pain?
Part 2 - The Neuroscience of BDSM
Synapses and Neurotransmitters
Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Serotonin
Opioid Receptors and Endorphins
Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids
Social Neuropeptides: Oxytocin and Vasopressin
Pain Neurophysiology
The Neuroscience of Spanking
Areas of the Brain Involved in Masochism
Part 3 - Sadomasochism
The Art of Bondage
Non-Impact Sadomasochism
Hot Spicy Buns - Using Hot Peppers and Capsaicin
Figging: the Kink of Putting Ginger in Your Butt
Electricity Play
Choking - How Safe Is It?
Part 4 - Dominance/submission
What Happens in a Dominance/Submission Relationship?
Types of Dominance/Submission Relationships
The Origins of Dominance/Submission
Part 5 - Altered States of Consciousness
The Endorphin Rush: Myth or Reality?
Endorphins and Adrenaline - What Science Really Says
The Neuroscience of Sub Space: Endorphins, Noradrenaline and Serotonin
Altered States of Consciousness in BDSM
Sub Drop
Sadism, Empathy and Compassion
BDSM and Mysticism
Part 6 - Dangers and Abuse in BDSM
Responsibilities of the Dominant and the Submissive
Panic Attacks in BDSM
The Thin Line Between Consent and Coercion
How to Recognize Abuse in BDSM Relationships
Drugs and BDSM
Should People with mental Conditions practice BDSM?
Can BDSM Be Therapeutic?