[sparklite2]

Unlearning slowly is a matter of will and belief in a higher power over one’s actions than animal impulse.

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But can learning change a physiological response to one of either non-arousal or arousal? I don’t think it is at the problem is at a high enough level of consciousness to allow for intellect/reason to control. Hence pedophilia is said to be uncurable. One can choose to not act out, but not to eliminate the impulse.

[Albion Wilde]

I think you are conflating all brain function with intellect. That is not the case. Will and, for want of a better word, spirit—these are transcendent functions that go beyond logic and reason.

Unlearning slowly is a matter of self-calming of a person’s reactions/responses to specific stimuli. It takes time, even years; so some of the beneficial side effects are a growth of patience and self-encouragement to avoid or endure tough situations. The person wanting to change learns to shift gears mentally, not to treat every hard-on as a critical emergency demanding response. As time goes on, abstinence from the “undesired desires” becomes learned in place of the impulse to seek gratification.