April 23, 2015
The Anatomy of a Climax
Have you ever wondered what happens to your mind and body when you orgasm? Wonder no longer.
There are millions of nerve endings in the genitals that feel pleasurable when stimulated. These nerves send signals to the brain, flooding the pleasure center. Orgasm does more than activate this pleasure center, it cause our brains to "lose control." When men and women reach orgasm, the lateral orbitofrontal cortex temporarily shuts down according to a study from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. This part of the brain is responsible for behaviour control which means that not only does your body let go at climax, your brain does to.
When we orgasm, our brains are flooded with oxytocin. This "cuddle hormone" fosters a sense of intimacy and can make us feel more connected to our partner. Interestingly, because men have a higher level testosterone in the brain, the effects of oxytocin may be dulled. This could explain the differences you may see in the post coital routines of men and women. It may also explain why men can sometimes more easily separate sex and intimacy.
The effect of oxytocin is not the only difference in the orgasmic brains of men and women. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) — the part of the brain that controls the fight-or-flight response is activated in women post orgasm but is not triggered in men. At orgasm, women experience decreased activity in the amygdala and hippocampus which help monitor fear and anxiety. The researchers theorize that this happens because women need to feel safe and secure in order to orgasm.
Of course, orgasms don't just happen in your brain, they also happen in your genitals. The build up of sexual energy and its release through muscle contractions is a sublime physiological experience.
Now you know a little more about what happens. Why not lose control tonight?
When we orgasm, our brains are flooded with oxytocin. This "cuddle hormone" fosters a sense of intimacy and can make us feel more connected to our partner. Interestingly, because men have a higher level testosterone in the brain, the effects of oxytocin may be dulled. This could explain the differences you may see in the post coital routines of men and women. It may also explain why men can sometimes more easily separate sex and intimacy.
The effect of oxytocin is not the only difference in the orgasmic brains of men and women. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) — the part of the brain that controls the fight-or-flight response is activated in women post orgasm but is not triggered in men. At orgasm, women experience decreased activity in the amygdala and hippocampus which help monitor fear and anxiety. The researchers theorize that this happens because women need to feel safe and secure in order to orgasm.
Of course, orgasms don't just happen in your brain, they also happen in your genitals. The build up of sexual energy and its release through muscle contractions is a sublime physiological experience.
Now you know a little more about what happens. Why not lose control tonight?