David Foster asked if the researchers investigating insula activation in women in the previous post looked at whether or not similar circuitry existed in men. Well, those particular researchers didn't but following paper demonstrated similar neural networks in men.
From, Distinguishing specific sexual and general emotional effects in fMRI—Subcortical and cortical arousal during erotic picture viewing, the authors state;
No differences were found in these effects when comparing females and males. Our findings demonstrate for the first time neural differentiation between emotional and sexual components in the neural network underlying sexual arousal.
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHaven't read the papers yet, but will.
Dr Helen Fisher defined *three* types of cross-gender attraction: lust, limerence, and attachment. One of the brain systems described seems clearly to map into lust; it isn't clear to me if the other one is more about limerence, attachment, or a combination of the two.
From my reading of the research, there seems to be a division between lust and all the rest when it comes to relationships.
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