We now know which brain area corresponds to the clitoris
For the first time, researchers have been able to precisely define the location of the representation of the clitoris in the brain of women.Their study, published Monday in the scientific journal Jneurosci, also shows that the Brain area activated during a clitoris stimulation is more extensive in women with more sexual intercourse.It was carried out by stimulating the clitoris of 20 women, while making an MRI of their brain.
Read also: the slow rehabilitation of the clitoris
Does a larger area make it a better perceive sensations?And is the size of this area that pushes more reports, or does frequent reports grow it?Impossible to say for the moment, specify the researchers.
But these works could help to develop better treatments for people who have suffered sexual violence or suffering from sexual disorders in the future."The way in which female genital organs are represented in the human somato-sensory cortex is completely underestimated," Christine Heim, professor of medical psychology at the university of charity in Berlin, told AFP, and Co-Ato the study."And this lack of knowledge has slowed research both on standard sexual behavior, but also on pathological conditions," she added.
Stimulation of the clitoris for ten seconds
When a part of the body is affected, a neuronal activity is triggered in the Somato-Sensol Cortex.Each part of the body corresponds to a different area of the brain, forming a kind of body card.But so far, the precise place dedicated to female genitals remained subject to debate.
Previous studies had sometimes placed it under the representation of the foot, others near that of the hip.In question: imprecise stimulation techniques (for example by yourself or a partner), causing the simultaneous touch of other parts of the body, or triggering an excitement, thus blurring the results.
How to get your Children to Eat their Vegetables and fruit https: // t.CO/7MXAPETVAE https: // t.Co/ibjlituzun
— Rob Thomas Mon Apr 02 21:18:35 +0000 2018
In 2005, thanks to a technique imitating a very localized tactile sensation, researchers were able to determine the precise place of the representation for men of their sex.But that had not yet been done in women.To remedy it, 20 healthy women aged 18 to 45 were selected.
For stimulation, a small round object specifically designed for the occasion has been applied above underwear at the clitoris: thanks to air jets, a small membrane started to vibrate slightly.The approach was "as comfortable as possible" for the participants, underlines John-Dylan Haynes, co-author of the study.
Eight clitoris stimulations were made, 10 seconds each, interspersed with 10 seconds of rest - as well as eight stimulations on the back of the right hand for comparison.Conclusion: For women and men, the representation of the genitals is well located near that of the hip.However, the precise location varies for each woman within this area.
Develop ways to help patients
The researchers then tried to find out if this area had different characteristics depending on sexual activity.The 20 women were questioned about the frequency of their reports on the past year, as well as since the start of their sex life.
Then, for each of them, the researchers determined the ten most activated points in the brain during stimulation, and measured the area obtained."We have found a link between the thickness of the genital area and the frequency of reports", especially in the last 12 months, "explains Christine Heim."The more sex there were, the thicker the area.The brain's plasticity is well known: certain parts of the brain develop as a function is used.But a causal link could not be established here directly at the moment.
Read also: the perineum, last taboo of privacy
Previous work, carried out on animals, however showed that stimulation of the genitals of rats and mouse effectively led to an expansion of the area of the brain corresponding to these organs.The study also did not determine if a greater area led to better perception.But Christine Heim, in a study published in 2013, had previously shown that people who have undergone traumatic sexual violence presented a reduced genital area.
"We hypothesized, at the time, that this could be the response of the brain in order to limit the harmful effect of abuse," she said, adding that other studies would be necessary forcheck it.In the future, the goal is to develop ways to help patients: the researcher wishes to study if certain sexual disorders are linked to the genital area alterations.Therapies aimed at "training" this area could then, perhaps, be envisaged.
