Orgasmic aura originates from the right hemisphere

Janszky, József; Szücs, Anna; Halász, Péter; Borbély, Csaba; Holló, András; Barsi, Péter; Mirnics, Z.

doi:10.1212/wnl.58.2.302

Cited by 66 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Our assumption is also consistent with Komisaruk et al's (2004) recent findings demonstrating an activation of the insula during online solo cervical-stimulation induced orgasm in spinalcord damaged women. In line with this, recent fMRI findings in men and EEG data in epileptic patients also showed that an orgasm results from a spread of neural activation within multiple brain areas, of which the insula might play a particular role Calleja et al, 1988;Chuang et al, 2004;Currier et al, 1971;Fadul et al, 2005;Freemon and Nevis, 1969;Janszky et al, 2002Janszky et al, , 2004McKenna, 2002;Ortigue and Bianchi-Demicheli, 2006;Shelley and Trimble, 2004). Along these lines, our results thus suggest that the insula serves as an integration cortex for multimodal and conceptual convergence of information that may play a role in second-order representations of bodily states (such as those involved in subjective quality ratings of orgasm) based on, for instance, recollections of sexual sensations, sexual fantasies and knowledge about sexual rewards or costs (sexual memory ;Spiering, 2004;Spiering et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Correlation between insula activation and self-reported quality of orgasm in women

2007

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Current multidimensional models of women's sexual function acknowledge the implicit impact of psychosocial factors on women's sexual function. Interaction between human sexual function and intensity of love has been also assumed, even if love is not an absolute condition. Yet, whereas great insights have been made in understanding the central mechanisms of the peripheral manifestations of women's sexual response, including orgasm, the cerebral correlates sustaining the interaction between women's sexual satisfaction and the unconscious role of the partner in this interpersonal experience remain unknown.Using functional imaging, we assessed brain activity elicited when 29 healthy female volunteers were unconsciously exposed to the subliminal presentation of their significant partner's name (a task known to elicit a partner-related neural network) and correlated it with individual scores obtained from different sexual dimensions: selfreported partnered orgasm quality (ease, satisfaction, frequency), love intensity and emotional closeness with that partner.Behavioral results identified a correlation between love and selfreported partnered orgasm quality. The more women were in love/ emotionally close to their partner, the more they tended to report being satisfied with the quality of their partnered orgasm. However, no relationship was found between intensity of love and partnered orgasm frequency.Neuroimaging data expanded these behavioral results by demonstrating the involvement of a specific left-lateralized insula focus of neural activity correlating with orgasm scores, irrespective of dimension (frequency, ease, satisfaction). In contrast, intensity of being in love was correlated with a network involving the angular gyrus.These findings strongly suggest that intimate and sexual relationships are sustained by partly different mechanisms, even if they share some emotional-related mechanisms. The critical correlation between self-reports of orgasm quality and activation of the left anterior insula, a part of the partner-related neural network known to play a pivotal role in somatic processes, suggests the importance of somatic information in the integration of sexual experience. On the other hand, the correlation between activation of the angular gyrus and love intensity reinforces the assumption that the representation of love calls for higher order cognitive levels, such as those related to the generation of abstract concepts. By highlighting the specific role of the anterior insula in the way women integrate components of physical satisfaction in the context of an intimate relationship with a partner, the current findings take a step in the understanding of a woman's sexual pleasure.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Correlation between insula activation and self-reported quality of orgasm in women

2007

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“…The study of the anatomical correlates sustaining the experience of unexpected orgasms in patients without any psychiatric, gynecological, or hormonal disorders has suggested that spontaneous orgasms are associated with cortical discharges, as indicated by monitoring brain waves. [Spontaneous orgasms are mainly caused by epileptic discharges (Janszky et al, 2002(Janszky et al, , 2004]. Nevertheless, reports of unexpected orgasms are rare in the clinic.…”

Section: Neurological Case Reportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paucity may be due to the subjective and intimate nature of orgasms that makes spontaneous orgasms delicate to express. Most of the patients are usually hesitant to provide information about the sexual signs that may occur before their epileptic crisis (signs also known as sexual and/or orgasmic aura, or warning; Gastaut & Collomb, 1954;Janszky et al, 2002Janszky et al, , 2004.…”

Section: Neurological Case Reportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward an understanding of the cerebral substrates of woman's orgasm

Bianchi‐Demicheli

Ortigue

2007

Neuropsychologia

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The way women experience orgasm is of interest to scientists, clinicians, and laypeople. Whereas the origin and the function of a woman's orgasm remains controversial, the current models of sexual function acknowledge a combined role of central (spinal and cerebral) and peripheral processes during orgasm experience. At the central level, although it is accepted that the spinal cord drives orgasm, the cerebral involvement and cognitive representation of a woman's orgasm has not been extensively investigated. Important gaps in our knowledge remain. Recently, the astonishing advances of neuroimaging techniques applied in parallel with a neuropsychological approach allowed the unravelling of specific functional neuroanatomy of a woman's orgasm. Here, clinical and experimental findings on the cortico-subcortical pathway of a woman's orgasm are reviewed and compared with the neural basis of a man's orgasm. By defining the specific brain areas that sustain the assumed higherorder representation of a woman's orgasm, this review provides a foundation for future studies. The next challenge of functional imaging and neuropsychological studies is to understand the hierarchical interactions between these multiple cortical areas, not only with a correlation analysis but also with high spatio-temporal resolution techniques demonstrating the causal necessity, the temporal time course and the direction of the causality. Further studies using a multi-disciplinary approach are needed to identify the spatio-temporal dynamic of a woman's orgasm, its dysfunctions and possible new treatments.

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“…41 In a more traditional deductive methodology, EEG evaluations of men with orgasmic aurae suggest that this is dominantly represented in the right hemisphere (87%). 42 Neurologists may be able to infer the most likely side for an epileptogenic focus if a preictal aura is orgasmic, urologists and sex researchers may expect imaging studies to emphasize right-sided changes during orgasm.…”

Section: Orgasm Updatementioning

confidence: 99%

Update on central function relevant to sex: remodeling the basis of drug treatments for sex and the brain

Heaton

Adams

2003

Int J Impot Res

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Sexual function draws on a complex network of peripheral and central neural pathways. The standard focus on erectile difficulties and peripheral therapies has been highly successful clinically but there are many unresolved issues in men and newly discussed issues in women that will likely benefit from improved understanding of the central nervous system and sexual function. The spectrum of future therapies, based on evolving central neurophysiological understanding, will include the management of problems related to orgasm, ejaculation, desire, motivation, anxiety, and pleasure. This new range of therapies will employ old and new neurochemicals and pathways singly or in combination. The capability of hormones to modulate many of the sexual pathways will also contribute to the rise of multiagent therapy. The expanded understanding, in combination with enhanced imaging technologies, will renew the role of diagnosis and cause-specific treatment.

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Orgasmic aura originates from the right hemisphere

Cited by 66 publications

References 8 publications

Correlation between insula activation and self-reported quality of orgasm in women

Correlation between insula activation and self-reported quality of orgasm in women

Toward an understanding of the cerebral substrates of woman's orgasm

Update on central function relevant to sex: remodeling the basis of drug treatments for sex and the brain

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