The human sexual response cycle: Brain imaging evidence linking sex to other pleasures

Article ID	Journal	Published Year	Pages	File Type
6286576	Progress in Neurobiology	2012	33 Pages	PDF

Abstract

âº Systematic review of existing brain imaging literature on human sexual behaviour. âº Similar to other rewards, the sexual cycle includes phases of wanting, liking and satiety. âº Most data is on wanting and liking, little on sexual satiety. âº We review the underlying brain networks supporting human sexual behaviour. âº The functional neuroanatomy of sex is very similar to that associated with other pleasures.

Keywords

OFC PERT aMCC SACC vmPFC IPC DMPFC NAcc DLPFC ASL vPMC BOLD SPL PacC Ventral pallidum Ventral striatum VSs Amygdala Orgasm AMY arousal Arterial spin labelling Social interaction Sex Food blood oxygenation level dependent Brain networks Interest primary somatosensory cortex orbitofrontal cortex primary motor cortex Intraparietal cortex Ventral medial prefrontal cortex dorsomedial prefrontal cortex dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Pleasure Medial temporal lobe Superior parietal lobule claustrum Cerebellum Nucleus accumbens Emotion Hypothalamus Reward Object processing Frontal operculum Claus