Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

19 October 2009

Mental representation of subjective pleasure of partnered experiences in women's brain conveyed through event-related fMRI

Francesco Bianchi-DemicheliABCDEF, Stephanie OrtigueACDEF

Med Sci Monit 2009; 15(11): CR545-550 :: ID: 878237

Abstract

Background
Functional neuroimaging demonstrates a combined role of central and peripheral mechanisms in human sexual response. Nevertheless, inter-individual subjective differences remain unresolved. Since Freud, controversy remains regarding the similarity of each type of partnered sexual pleasure experience. The authors hypothesized that the neural networks sustaining the memory of all types of subjective partnered sexual pleasure experiences might interact with the insula, a key brain area for integrating somatic experiences.
Material and Method
Using a 3T Phillips MRI scanner, brain activity elicited when 29 healthy female volunteers were exposed to subliminal presentation of their sexual partner's names, an approach to investigating the brain network sustaining the mental representation of their partner, was assessed. This brain activity was compared with scores from the Female Sexual Functioning Index on satisfaction and the typologies of their partnered orgasmic experiences. No orgasmic responses were recorded during fMRI. This approach allowed the investigation of the memory of the different types of stored partnered orgasmic experiences.
Results
The memory of partnered pleasure obtained by clitoral stimulation correlated with brain responses in the left insula only, while that of partnered pleasure by sexual intercourse correlated with the left insula and also with the right superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, and right inferior prefrontal gyrus.
Conclusions
The results suggest that the memory of sexual experiences is integrated a posteriori at different levels (i.e. by different neural networks) in a woman's brain. The authors believe these findings will open a new avenue towards understanding inter- and intra-individual differences in woman's sexual mind.

Keywords: Oxygen - blood, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Evoked Potentials - physiology, Brain Mapping, Pleasure - physiology, Sexual Partners - psychology

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 November 2024 : Editorial  

Editorial: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Image Analysis, and the Future of Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947038

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e947038

0:00

In Press

Review article  

Epigenetic and Immune Mechanisms Linking Breastfeeding to Lower Breast Cancer Rates

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945451  

Clinical Research  

Comprehensive Analysis of Immune Infiltration and Key Genes in Peri-Implantitis Using Bioinformatics and Mo...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.941870  

Clinical Research  

High-Resolution Anorectal Manometry and Balloon Expulsion Test Outcomes in Functional Constipation: A Compa...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944599  

Clinical Research  

Plaque Removal and Gingival Bleeding Using Biodegradable Toothbrushes: Salvadora persica, Bamboo, and Nylo...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944469  

Most Viewed Current Articles

17 Jan 2024 : Review article   6,157,120

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research   1,908,619

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research   695,167

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

07 Jan 2022 : Meta-Analysis   260,369

Efficacy and Safety of Light Therapy as a Home Treatment for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson Dise...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935074

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935074

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750