Scientists first recorded a woman's brain activity during orgasm (video)
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Scientists from the University of Rutgers, New Jersey (USA), first recorded the activity of the brain of a woman during orgasm. The recording was carried out for five minutes using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Researchers presented the results of their work at the annual symposium of Neurobiologists in Washington.
Video shows the development of brain activity in periods of sexual arousal, orgasm and recovery.
The author of the study, Professor Barry Komisaruk, said: "We can observe the sequence of activation of brain regions that are responsible for the development of orgasm."
Co-author of the study, sexologist Nan Wies, said: "When I first started graduate school in the 1980s, we did not have such research methods. Now we can study how different areas of the brain activate, leading to orgasm." This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the possibility of interaction between different parts of the brain.I think this study confirms that sexuality is a very complex process. "
The purpose of the study was to find out the mechanisms of the inability to achieve orgasm in persons of different sexes.
The film animation - consisting of a series of pictures taken at a two-second interval - shows how 80 different areas of the brain (40 from each side) are involved in the occurrence of orgasm. The film uses colors of different spectra - from dark red to white, which show the oxygen activity of different parts of the brain. When an orgasm is achieved, almost the entire brain becomes yellow or white. Even at the very beginning of the film, you can see that the genital areas of the sensory cortex are the first to become active - this is the answer to the touch in the genital area. Then comes the limbic system - this part of the brain, which is responsible for long-term memory and emotions.
At the moment of reaching orgasm, the cerebellum and frontal cortex are significantly activated - this is the result of muscle tension. The peak of orgasm achievement corresponds to the activation of the hypothalamus, which secretes oxytocin, a chemical substance that causes pleasure.
The developed method will help to understand how brain activity changes, and it is possible, ultimately, to improve the symptoms associated with pain, depression and anxiety.
"We use orgasm as a way of getting pleasure, if we can learn how to activate the pleasure areas of the brain, we could find a wider application of this knowledge," the authors of the study state.
[