title: The cortical sensory representation of genitalia in women and men: a systematic review.
abstract: Background : Although genital sensations are an essential aspect of sexual behavior, the cortical somatosensory representation of genitalia in women and men remain poorly known and contradictory results have been reported. Objective : To conduct a systematic review of studies based on electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging studies, with the aim to identify insights brought by modern methods since the early descriptions of the sensory homunculus in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI). Results : The review supports the interpretation that there are two distinct representations of genital sensations in SI, one on the medial surface and the other on the lateral surface. In addition, the review suggests that the secondary somatosensory cortex and the posterior insula support a representation of the affective aspects of genital sensation. Conclusion : In view of the erogenous character of sensations originating in the genitalia, future studies on this topic should systematically assess qualitatively as well as quantitatively the sexually stimulating and/or sexually pleasurable characteristics of sensations felt by subjects in response to experimental stimuli.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U669, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Fadwa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cazala
authors.affiliation: INSERM U669, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vienney
authors.affiliation: INSERM U669, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; serge.stoleru@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoléru
keywords: clitoris; genitalia; homunculus; insula; penis; primary somatosensory cortex; secondary somatosensory cortex; sexual arousal; somatosensory organization; somatosensory representation