Transcranial libido stimulation

Sexual desire was regulated by magnetic stimulation of the brain

Oleg Lischuk, N+1

American scientists have found that by stimulating the reward center of the brain, it is possible to regulate people's libido (sex drive) and the degree of their pleasure from sex. The results of the work are published in the journal PLoS ONE (Prause et al., EEG to Primary Rewards: Predictive Utility and Malleability by Brain Stimulation).

Disorders of the functions of the reward system of the brain (responsible for feelings of satisfaction and pleasure), in particular hypersensitivity to pleasure, underlies many psychopathologies, such as mood disorders, addictions and others. They affect impulsivity and risk-taking, which is especially important in relation to sexual behavior, since it can have negative consequences in the form of diseases, unwanted pregnancy and social problems.

As previous studies have shown, the activity of certain areas of the cerebral cortex can be regulated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in which magnetic pulses of a certain frequency are applied to the cortex in different modes using electromagnetic coils connected to the head. In experiments, TMS was successfully used to reduce anhedonia and depression, as well as cravings for tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and food. It has been shown that TMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC), which is closely related to the reward system of the brain, is able to regulate the level of its neurotransmitter dopamine in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, tire and striatum, which affects the emotional expectation of potential positive stimuli.

Scheme of TMS (Wikimedia Commons)

A type of TMS called theta pulse stimulation (TIS, coincides in frequency with theta brain waves), depending on the mode, has the opposite effect on the activity of the cerebral cortex: pulsed TIS (600 pulses for 190 seconds with 10-second breaks) increases it, and long-term (600 pulses for 40 seconds continuously) – reduces.

Employees of the Universities of California and Pittsburgh stimulated LDLPFC in different modes to 20 heterosexual volunteers of both sexes who had at least two sexual partners during the last year (an indicator of sexual activity and risky behavior). After that, vibratory stimulators were fixed on their genitals and various figures were briefly shown on the screen, telling them what duration of the stimulator activation (from 0.5 to 5 seconds) they correspond to. When a solid square appeared briefly on the screen after the demonstration of a certain figure, they had to have time to press the button. If they succeeded, after a short pause, the stimulator was turned on for the appropriate time. At the same time, alpha brain waves were recorded in volunteers using an electroencephalogram (EEG), the intensity of which decreases with sexual or psychomotor arousal and increases in its absence.

The whole experiment was repeated, using instead of sexual stimulation a monetary reward, the amount of which also depended on the figure on the screen.

Task for volunteers (here and below are pictures from the article in PLoS ONE)

It turned out that TIS LDLPFC in the activation mode significantly increased excitation (as judged by the suppression of alpha waves) both during the pause (waiting for sexual stimulation) and during receiving the reward. TIS in suppression mode had the opposite effect. Monetary remuneration did not produce a pronounced effect.

A subsequent survey of participants showed that the degree of change in their alpha waves (that is, sexual excitability) during the experiment correlated with the number of orgasms they experienced on the weekend after participating in the study. No significant side effects of stimulation were observed.

Scheme of the experiment

Thus, TIS is able to modulate sensitivity to expectation (that is, sexual desire) and receiving (that is, pleasure from sex) sexual satisfaction and may become a new way of treating sexual desire disorders, the authors concluded.

Currently, TMS is approved in the United States for the treatment of major depressive disorder, resistant to the action of drugs. In experiments, it is used to treat neuropathic pain, spastic disorders and some other diseases.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  02.12.2016