Study reveals that part of a women's brain turns off during orgasm, and anxiety can prevent women from reaching that elusive orgasm. Some women are also able to climax without physical touch, a phenomenon known as the mind orgasm.
The Orgasmic Brain
For a woman’s brain to get turned on sexually, another part of the brain has to turn off, according to a Dutch study of the brains of men and women during orgasm.
The study was undertaken in 2005 by neuroscientists at the Univerity of Groningen, in the Netherlands, where they used brain scans to map what happened in men’s and women's minds while their partners sat by their bodies, sexually stimulating them.
The study involved 13 women and 11 men aged 19 to 39. Women told the researchers when they faked orgasm, but the truth was there on the scans anyway. Having an orgasm is, for women at least, an event that takes place in the mind. Large parts of their brains that deal with emotion and fear appear to shut down so that they can climax.
What Is An Orgasm?
The orgasm is a fairly brief event that occurs in the mind and felt in the body. There is no agreed definition of an orgasm amongst medical professionals as it is a subjective experience referring to an intensely pleasurable sexual experience, often considered the peak or climax of sexual excitement.
Some people describe an orgasm as a “sense of euphoria,” “heavenly bliss,” “pleasurable rush over the body,” “complete joy,” “mind-blowing release,” “wonderful explosion of pleasure.” “sexual high.” “pure pleasure and peace” “volcano erupting,” “overwhelming feeling,” “indescribable feel-good sensations,” “like you’re flying.” “psychosomatic circle” “ecstasy,” “sensual relief,” “out-of-body experience,” and “heart-pumping fun.”
Orgasms trigger the release of dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, which also lower blood pressure. It can help to limit stress and tension, as well as relieving pain in the body.
The Mind Orgasm
A mind orgasm, is also known as a mental, or fantasy orgasm. They can happen through stimulation of the largest sexual organ – the brain. The is what generally happens when you have an orgasm whilst sleeping. Some women can experience an orgasm from a conversation without any physical touch. Mind orgasms are brought via intimate thoughts and exploratory fantasies, nestled deep within the mind. “The orgasm for a woman is mental,” says sexual health educator, Angelica Lindsey-Ali.
Some women can orgasm without physical touch. It is known as a mental orgasm. For many women, to have a mental orgasm, requires having a still mind and thinking intensely about things that turn them on. Some women are able to have a mental orgasm by thinking about their intimate partner or listening to seductive words from their husband.
The mind orgasm is one of fourteen orgasms women can experience, as outlined in the book Kunyaza: The Secret to Female Pleasure
For a woman’s brain to get turned on sexually, another part of the brain has to turn off, according to a Dutch study of the brains of men and women during orgasm.
The study was undertaken in 2005 by neuroscientists at the Univerity of Groningen, in the Netherlands, where they used brain scans to map what happened in men’s and women's minds while their partners sat by their bodies, sexually stimulating them.
The study involved 13 women and 11 men aged 19 to 39. Women told the researchers when they faked orgasm, but the truth was there on the scans anyway. Having an orgasm is, for women at least, an event that takes place in the mind. Large parts of their brains that deal with emotion and fear appear to shut down so that they can climax.
What Is An Orgasm?
The orgasm is a fairly brief event that occurs in the mind and felt in the body. There is no agreed definition of an orgasm amongst medical professionals as it is a subjective experience referring to an intensely pleasurable sexual experience, often considered the peak or climax of sexual excitement.
Some people describe an orgasm as a “sense of euphoria,” “heavenly bliss,” “pleasurable rush over the body,” “complete joy,” “mind-blowing release,” “wonderful explosion of pleasure.” “sexual high.” “pure pleasure and peace” “volcano erupting,” “overwhelming feeling,” “indescribable feel-good sensations,” “like you’re flying.” “psychosomatic circle” “ecstasy,” “sensual relief,” “out-of-body experience,” and “heart-pumping fun.”
Orgasms trigger the release of dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, which also lower blood pressure. It can help to limit stress and tension, as well as relieving pain in the body.
The Mind Orgasm
A mind orgasm, is also known as a mental, or fantasy orgasm. They can happen through stimulation of the largest sexual organ – the brain. The is what generally happens when you have an orgasm whilst sleeping. Some women can experience an orgasm from a conversation without any physical touch. Mind orgasms are brought via intimate thoughts and exploratory fantasies, nestled deep within the mind. “The orgasm for a woman is mental,” says sexual health educator, Angelica Lindsey-Ali.
Some women can orgasm without physical touch. It is known as a mental orgasm. For many women, to have a mental orgasm, requires having a still mind and thinking intensely about things that turn them on. Some women are able to have a mental orgasm by thinking about their intimate partner or listening to seductive words from their husband.
The mind orgasm is one of fourteen orgasms women can experience, as outlined in the book Kunyaza: The Secret to Female Pleasure
Woman’s Brain Turns Off During Orgasm
Professor Gert Holstege reported the findings at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, organised by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
"The main thing we saw was deactivation in women," he said. "It was unbelievable, very pronounced. I think that is the major outcome of the study. You see extreme deactivation of large portions of the brain, especially the fear centres, the brain that controls emotions."
The main part of the brain that seemed active was the cerebellum, linked to control of movement, but scientists also think it may have an emotional role. This was active in fake orgasms too, but otherwise there was a different picture.
"If you look at women that faked orgasm you see the same kind of thing in the cerebellum, but the cortex, the conscious part of the brain, is also active," Holstege said.
Anxiety and Overthinking Stops Orgasm
It is important that the level of anxiety and fear in the mind needs to be subdued and in control in order for a woman to orgasm, says the author of the study. High levels of stress, worry, and overthinking can prevent a woman from reaching the big-O.
Many women find it difficult to climax with their partner because they struggle to get out of their head and stop overthinking during intimacy.
How To Orgasm
To orgasm, women needed to ensure that fear and stress did not get in the way. "The deactivation of these very important parts of the brain might be the most important thing necessary to have an orgasm. If you are in a high level of anxiety it is very hard to have sex [and orgasm]."
As the women were stimulated, activity rose in one sensory part of the brain, called the primary somatosensory cortex, but fell in the amygdala and hippocampus, areas involved in alertness and anxiety. During orgasm, activity fell in many more areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, compared with the resting state.
The study confirmed what is already commonly known, that women are more likely to orgasm when they are relaxed and free from worries and distractions. “Fear and anxiety levels have to go down for orgasm. Everyone knows this but we can see it happening in the brain,” he explained.
A man can help a woman reach climax by creating a safe, secure and comfortable environment when intimate. Every woman is capable of orgasming with a man, but it may take some work and patience.
Many preorgasmic women have experienced a mind-blowing orgasm once they have figured out what turns them on and received the right type of stimulation they need to orgasm. Mindfulness can also help a woman overcome mental blockages to orgasming.
Professor Gert Holstege reported the findings at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, organised by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
"The main thing we saw was deactivation in women," he said. "It was unbelievable, very pronounced. I think that is the major outcome of the study. You see extreme deactivation of large portions of the brain, especially the fear centres, the brain that controls emotions."
The main part of the brain that seemed active was the cerebellum, linked to control of movement, but scientists also think it may have an emotional role. This was active in fake orgasms too, but otherwise there was a different picture.
"If you look at women that faked orgasm you see the same kind of thing in the cerebellum, but the cortex, the conscious part of the brain, is also active," Holstege said.
Anxiety and Overthinking Stops Orgasm
It is important that the level of anxiety and fear in the mind needs to be subdued and in control in order for a woman to orgasm, says the author of the study. High levels of stress, worry, and overthinking can prevent a woman from reaching the big-O.
Many women find it difficult to climax with their partner because they struggle to get out of their head and stop overthinking during intimacy.
How To Orgasm
To orgasm, women needed to ensure that fear and stress did not get in the way. "The deactivation of these very important parts of the brain might be the most important thing necessary to have an orgasm. If you are in a high level of anxiety it is very hard to have sex [and orgasm]."
As the women were stimulated, activity rose in one sensory part of the brain, called the primary somatosensory cortex, but fell in the amygdala and hippocampus, areas involved in alertness and anxiety. During orgasm, activity fell in many more areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, compared with the resting state.
The study confirmed what is already commonly known, that women are more likely to orgasm when they are relaxed and free from worries and distractions. “Fear and anxiety levels have to go down for orgasm. Everyone knows this but we can see it happening in the brain,” he explained.
A man can help a woman reach climax by creating a safe, secure and comfortable environment when intimate. Every woman is capable of orgasming with a man, but it may take some work and patience.
Many preorgasmic women have experienced a mind-blowing orgasm once they have figured out what turns them on and received the right type of stimulation they need to orgasm. Mindfulness can also help a woman overcome mental blockages to orgasming.
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