Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

Psychosexual Theory of Development

1.3K
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
1.3K
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital01:23

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital

1.4K
The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
1.4K
Organization of the Brain01:30

Organization of the Brain

1.8K
The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
1.8K
Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions01:20

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions

8.2K
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect...
8.2K
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus01:15

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

2.3K
Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the...
2.3K
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic01:12

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

1.3K
The third stage of psychosexual development proposed by Freud is the phallic stage, occurring between the ages of 3 and 6. During this period, children become aware of their bodies and the differences between males and females. The erogenous zone in this stage is the genitals, and conflicts arise as children develop desires toward the opposite-sex parent. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, where they desire their mother and view their father as a rival. This leads to castration anxiety, the...
1.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Changes in leukocytes and CRP in different treatments of major depression.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026
Same author

Ictal electroencephalography and heart rate as treatment criteria in electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review of the literature.

European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience·2026
Same author

Differential and state-dependent effects of the GluN2A-selective positive allosteric modulator GNE-5729 on executive functions.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026
Same author

From case-control averages to validated subgroups: Interpreting inflammatory and neuroaxonal-injury biomarkers in schizophrenia and major depression.

Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2026
Same author

Pupil dilation indexes - but does not causally influence - conscious error detection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of performance-monitoring using atomoxetine.

Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging·2026
Same author

The effect of vaginal tamoxifen on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women with and without breast cancer.

Maturitas·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Sex Stratified Neuronal Cultures to Study Ischemic Cell Death Pathways
10:44

Sex Stratified Neuronal Cultures to Study Ischemic Cell Death Pathways

Published on: December 9, 2013

12.2K

Brain structure changes associated with sexual orientation.

Mikhail Votinov1,2, Katharina S Goerlich3, Andrei A Puiu4

  • 1Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 10, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany. mvotinov@ukaachen.de.

Scientific Reports
|March 4, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sexual orientation is linked to brain structure differences, with specific regions like the thalamus and putamen showing variations in gray matter volume between heterosexual and homosexual individuals. These brain morphology differences are also influenced by biological sex.

More Related Videos

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

7.1K
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

14.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Sex Stratified Neuronal Cultures to Study Ischemic Cell Death Pathways
10:44

Sex Stratified Neuronal Cultures to Study Ischemic Cell Death Pathways

Published on: December 9, 2013

12.2K
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

7.1K
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

14.3K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Brain Imaging
  • Human Sexuality

Background:

  • Biological sex influences brain structure and function.
  • Sexual orientation has been linked to functional brain differences, but morphological evidence is inconclusive.
  • Understanding brain morphology related to sexual orientation is crucial for neuroimaging studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cerebral structural differences associated with sexual orientation.
  • To examine how sexual orientation and biological sex interact in brain morphology.
  • To provide insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of sexual orientation.

Main Methods:

  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze gray matter volume (GMV).
  • 74 participants (37 men, 37 women) with varying sexual orientations were studied.
  • Statistical analyses controlled for age, handedness, education, and total intracranial volume.

Main Results:

  • Sexual orientation significantly affected GMV in the thalamus and precentral gyrus (more in heterosexual individuals).
  • The putamen showed greater GMV in homosexual individuals.
  • Interactions between sex and sexual orientation revealed sex-specific patterns in the putamen and precentral gyrus.

Conclusions:

  • Sexual orientation is reflected in brain structure, with sex-specific variations.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering sexual orientation in neuroimaging research.
  • The study offers new insights into brain morphology related to sexual orientation and behavior.