What Is a Sexual Network?

In recent years, through the research of non-invasive brain imaging, a lot of scientific data has been accumulated on the brain functional basis of the human sexual response cycle. Georgiadis and Kringelbach (2012) ^[1] systematically reviewed these literatures and summarized anatomy maps of brain function at various stages of the human sexual response cycle. Human sexual response is divided into sexual interest network, sexual arousal network, sex network, orgasm network and sexual refractory network.

Orgasm occurs during the sex phase, and the highest degree of happiness is produced after sexual pleasure before the refractory period. The orgasm network is the brain functional network corresponding to the orgasm phase.

Human sexual orgasm research is mostly based on women, and the orbital cortex (OFC) excitement is the main feature. In addition, the ventral medial occipital-temporal cortex and ventral medial prefrontal cortex were also strongly activated during orgasm; however, their corresponding activity levels were negatively correlated with sexual arousal during sexual arousal. ^[1]

1. Sexual interest network (desire or interest) ^[1] : The heterosexual nude pictures presented briefly (1-2s), triggering the subject's sexual desire or sexual interest. At this time, the nao network with enhanced activities is called "sexual interest network", mainly Including ventral striatum (VS) / nucleus accumbens (NAcc), amygdala (arm), orbital cortex (OFC), posterior anterior cingulate gyrus (pACC), superior parietal lobe (SPL), hypothalamus (HAP ) And former island leaves (insula).

2. Plateau ^[1] : before sexual intercourse, the sexual organs are exposed to the sensation of contact and reach the lumbosacral region representing the primary cortical sensory cortex; the afferent impulse generated by the penile erection directly reaches the posterior lobe cortex-screen The nuclear complex (the posterior insula-claustrum complex), but the ventral pallidum also receives kshi and termination signals for genital stimulation. Stimulation from the partner's genitals during sex will continuously increase the excitement of the medial cingulate gyrus (aMCC), posterior island leaf-screen nucleus, anterior island leaf-frontal island cover, medial temporal lobe cortex, and occipital-temporal cortex This network has a large overlap with the sexual arousal network.

3. Sexual arousal network (arousal) ^[1] : When the participants play sexual content videos for 1-2min, most male subjects have a sexual arousal response with an enlarged penis. At this time, the network with enhanced brain activity is called a sexual arousal network. The network includes the ventrolateral occipital-temporal cortex (vIOT), the premotor cortical abdomen (vPMC), the medial parietal cortex (IPC), the medial cingulate anterior region (aMCC), and the posterior islet, as well as the hypothalamus and anterior islet. .

4. Sexual refractory network ^[1] : After sexual satisfaction and sexual activity are stopped, the brain structure of sexual excitement is de-arousal, especially in the anterior cingulate and posterior region. (PACC) and superior region (sACC); but also occurs in the ventromedial prefrontal (vmPFC), amygdala, and para hippocampal gyrus. After these illustrative responses cease, brain function returns to a preset mode state.