Korean J Urol.  2007 Mar;48(3):333-343. 10.4111/kju.2007.48.3.333.

Location of Brain Electrical Source Activation by Visually Stimulated Sexual Arousal in Young Men and Women: a Cross Spectral Analysis using Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA)

• Kam SC
• Kwon OY
• Hyun JS

• KMID: 1997134
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2007.48.3.333

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the locations of the cerebral cortex activated by visually stimulated sexual arousal, and to discriminate the gender differences between the cortical activation patterns in response to sexual stimuli.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-two male and the twenty-one female volunteers from right-handed medical students were enrolled in this study. The electroencephalography (EEGs) included the segments recorded during resting, watching a music-video, intermission and watching a pornographic video. The low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) images of cross-spectral analysis were obtained from the segments using the LORETA-KEY software.
RESULTS
The beta 1, 2 and 3 activities of males showed the point of maximal current densities in both the uncus and parahippocampal gyrus of the left limbic lobe, the anterior cingulate of the right limbic lobe, the superior temporal gyrus of both temporal lobes, the precuneus of the right parietal lobe, the medial frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus of the right frontal lobe, the superior parietal lobule of the right parietal lobe, and the middle occipital gyrus of both occipital lobes. The delta, theta, alpha and beta 1 activities of females showed the point of maximal current densities in the postcentral gyrus and inferior parietal lobule of the left parietal lobe, the middle frontal gyrus of the left frontal lobe, the middle occipital gyrus of the left occipital lobe, the left cuneus, the superior temporal gyrus of both temporal lobes and the left parahippocampal gyrus.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a difference in the visually stimulated sexual arousal-associated with the cerebral neuroanatomical areas between men and women, as estimated using the LORETA software. These areas; therefore, were thought to play important roles in the sexual arousal of males and females in response to audiovisual sexual stimulation.

Keyword

Tomography; Arousal; Visual stimulation

MeSH Terms

Arousal*
Brain*
Cerebral Cortex
Electroencephalography
Female
Frontal Lobe
Humans
Magnets*
Male
Occipital Lobe
Parahippocampal Gyrus
Parietal Lobe
Photic Stimulation
Rabeprazole
Students, Medical
Temporal Lobe
Volunteers

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Male-beta 1. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the beta 1 (13-18Hz) band of male induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the parahippocampal gyrus, and uncus of the left limbic lobe, superior temporal gyrus of both temporal lobes and the middle occipital gyrus of the left occipital lobe.

• 

  Fig. 2. Male-beta 2. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the beta 2 (19-21Hz) band of male induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the superior frontal gyrus and medial frontal gyrus of the right frontal lobe, and the anterior cingulate gyrus of the left limbic lobe.

• 

  Fig. 3. Male-beta 3. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the beta 3 (22-30Hz) band of male induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the middle occipital gyrus of both occipital lobes, the superior temporal gyrus of both temporal lobes, the precuneus of the right parietal lobe, the superior parietal lobule of the right parietal lobe, the medial frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus of the right frontal lobe, the anterior cingulate gyrus of the right limbic lobe, and the parahippocampal gyrus of the left limbic lobe.

• 

  Fig. 4. Female-delta. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the delta (1-3Hz) band of female induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the postcentral gyrus and inferior parietal lobule of the left parietal lobe, and the middle frontal gyrus of the left frontal lobe.

• 

  Fig. 5. Female theta. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the theta (4-7Hz) band of female induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the middle occipital gyrus of the left occipital lobe, the left cuneus and the postcentral gyrus of the left parietal lobe.

• 

  Fig. 6. Female alpha. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the alpha (8-12Hz) band of female induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the superior temporal gyrus of the left temporal lobe, and the postcentral gyrus of the left parietal lobe.

• 

  Fig. 7. Female-beta 1. The anatomical areas of current density increment of the alpha (8-12Hz) band of female induced by visual-sexual arousal. The current density is increased in the superior temporal gyrus of both temporal lobes, the postcentral gyrus of the left parietal lobe, and the parahippocampal gyrus of the left limbic lobe.

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