Gallery: Penile Strain Gauges and Other Strange Devices of Sex Science
Sarah Sudhoff01Sarah Sudhoff-10
*Vaginal Photoplethysmograph II*. Measures vaginal blood flow indicating the level of sexual arousal in women. Circumference 2.4 inches, length 3 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff02Sarah Sudhoff-26
*Penis model for condom application,* 2011. Men's ability to apply condoms to a penis model were compared to their skills in putting it on their own penis. Used in a study of over 100 men. Height is 7 inches, circumference is 3.9 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff03Sarah Sudhoff-14
*Mercury-in-rubber penile strain gauge, *2011. A commonly-used device that measures erections in men. Circumference 3.8 inches (stretched, approximately 6 inches).
Sarah Sudhoff04Sarah Sudhoff-23
* Biothesiometer, *2011. A biothesiometer that measures flaccid and erect penile sensitivity to vibration. Used in a study of over 100 men. Measuring trough is 2 inches wide and 4 inches long.
Sarah Sudhoff05Sarah Sudhoff-28
*Male Vibrator I,* 2011. A male vibrator used in a project involving over 100 men. Circumference is 4.7 inches (stretched, approximately 6.3 inches). Overall size is approximately 3 x 2 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff06Sarah Sudhoff-02
*Circular calibration device, *2011. A device to calibrate instruments used to measure penile circumference. Consists of a 26-step plastic cylinder with steps ranging from 3.3 to 4.8 inches circumference.
Sarah Sudhoff07Sarah Sudhoff-07
*Vaginal Photoplethysmograph I.* Measures vaginal blood flow, which indicates the level of sexual arousal in women. Circumference 2.4 inches, length 3 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff08Sarah Sudhoff-27
*Shock Threats*, 2011. These videos were part of a larger selection of films used in a study on the effects of shock threat on men's decisions to watch sexual films. The study was an attempt to measure sexual risk-taking in the laboratory. Men were at risk of receiving electrical shocks the longer they watched a sex film.
Sarah Sudhoff09Rigiscan, 2011
* Rigiscan,* 2011. Device used to measure both circumference and rigidity of the penis. Used on hundreds of subjects. Maximum loop circumference is 7 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff10Sarah Sudhoff-29
*Necklace with scented pellets, *2011. A necklace with scented pellets used in a study on the effects of perfumes and colognes on female sexual arousal. A total of 33 women were tested during two phases of their menstrual cycle. Pouch approximately 1.75 by 1 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff11Sarah Sudhoff-03
*Oval calibration device,* 2011. A device to calibrate instruments used to measure penile circumference. Constructed by mounting a plastic cone consisting of two identical halves on a micrometer gauge. Increasing the distance between the two halves changes the shape of the cone from a circle to an oval. Used to calibrate instruments in 13 steps, from a circumference of 3.3 to 6.3 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff12Sarah Sudhoff-17
*Male Vibrator II,* 2011. A male vibrator used in a project involving over 100 men. Circumference 4.7 inches (stretched approximately 6.3 inches). Overall size approximately 3 by 2 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff13Vaginal Photoplethysmograph III, 2011
*Vaginal Photoplethysmograph III,* 2011. Contemporary psychophysiological device which measures vaginal blood flow indicating the level of sexual arousal in women. The positioning shield can be placed on the probe's cable in order to standardize the depth of insertion. Circumference of probe is 1.6 inches, length 2 inches.
Sarah Sudhoff14Sarah Sudhoff-06
*Silver/silver chloride electrodes, *2011. These electrodes measure startle response. Small electrodes (0.15 inches diameter) are used to measure muscle activity, large ones (0.3 inches in diameter) are used to measure skin conductance.
