Blood-oxygenation-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating cerebral regions of female sexual arousal response.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, for the first time, the cerebral regions associated with female sexual arousal evoked by visual stimulation using noninvasive blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).


METHODS
A total of 6 healthy right-handed female volunteers (mean age 33 years, range 25 to 41) underwent fMRI on a 1.5-T MR scanner, in which the BOLD technique was used to create fMR images reflecting local brain activities. Real-time visual stimulation was performed with alternatively combined erotic and nonerotic films to identify the activated brain regions associated with sexual response. The perceived sexual arousal response was assessed using a scale ranging from 1 (no change) to 5 (maximal increase).


RESULTS
The mean score for perceived sexual arousal by erotic visual stimulation was 2.7 on the 5-point scale and was unchanged by nonerotic stimulation. During the visual task, the occipital cortex was activated by both the erotic and the nonerotic films; however, the following cerebral areas were significantly (P <0.05) activated, varying from 4 of 6 to 6 of 6 women: inferior frontal lobe, cingulate gyrus, insula gyrus, corpus callosum, thalamus, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and inferior temporal lobe.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to evaluate noninvasive BOLD-fMRI in identifying cerebral regions associated with sexual arousal response evoked by visual stimulation in women.
Park
K
K
Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, South Korea.
Kang
H K
HK
Seo
J J
JJ
Kim
H J
HJ
Ryu
S B
SB
Jeong
G W
GW
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012723:Sex