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Endogenous Opioid Release After Orgasm in Man: A Combined PET/Functional MRI Study

Patrick Jern1, Jinglu Chen2,3, Jouni Tuisku2,3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; patrick.jern@abo.fi.

Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine
|July 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study shows that the brain

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Sexuality
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • The endogenous μ-opioid receptor (MOR) system is crucial for reward pathways.
  • Previous research suggests MOR involvement in human sexual pleasure, but in vivo evidence is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate endogenous opioid release in the brain following orgasm in humans.
  • To explore the neural correlates of sexual arousal using neuroimaging techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with [11C]carfentanil to quantify MOR activity.
  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to measure hemodynamic responses during penile stimulation.
  • Comparison of brain activity immediately post-orgasm versus a baseline state.

Main Results:

  • Significant endogenous opioid release was detected in the hippocampus after orgasm.
  • Penile stimulation increased hemodynamic activity in somatosensory/motor cortices, hippocampus, and thalamus.
  • Thalamic activation showed a linear correlation with self-reported sexual arousal levels.

Conclusions:

  • Endogenous opioidergic activation in the medial temporal lobe is central to sexual arousal.
  • This neural circuit may play a role in understanding and treating orgasmic disorders.
Keywords:
PETarousalfMRImanual penile stimulationopioidsorgasm

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