Understanding how sex affects the brain will help improve many aspects of health. So says Dr. Barry R. Komissaruk, professor of psychology in New Jersey. Studying the effect of sexual intercourse on the brain is not so easy: volunteers have to masturbate in a CT scanner, which is not the most convenient place for this activity.
But scientists do not give up and continue to receive new data on how one of the most pleasant acts affects the state of the human brain and body. Estet-portal.com will acquaint you with information on the subject known today.
The effect of sex on the brain: how a physical act changes the main organ
We present to your attention scientifically confirmed information about the effect of sex on the brain:
- Sex acts like a drug
Sex – a nice thing, so we like him and makes him look for partners by all means. The pleasure that we get from sexual intercourse is largely due to the release of dopamine – a neurotransmitter that activates the pleasure center in the brain.
The same neurotransmitter – one of the chemicals that provide euphoria after taking drugs. Cocaine and sex provide different kinds of pleasure, but they activate the same areas of the brain. Caffeine, nicotine and chocolate also affect the pleasure center.
Cocaine and sex are different types of pleasure, but they activate the same areas of the brain.
- Sex can act as an antidepressant
Back in 2003, the State University of New York at Albany followed 300 women and found that sex without a condom suppresses symptoms of depression. Researchers have hypothesized that various constituents of seminal fluid, including estrogen and prostaglandin, act as an antidepressant absorbed by the body after sex.
Only partners who are confident in each other are recommended to take advantage of sex without a condom, for the rest, the rejection of a condom – not the best way to improve your mood while risking catching an STD.
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- Sometimes sex makes me sad
During intercourse, feel-good neurotransmitters do their job, but what happens after intercourse? Postcoital dysphoria – worsening of mood after sexual intercourse – was seen in about a third of the women participating in the study. So far, scientists are not completely sure what is the reason for sadness after sexual intercourse.
- Sex relieves pain
Refusing sex because of a headache – not the best idea, since it is sexual intercourse that can relieve pain. Partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of migraines and cluster headaches during sexual intercourse was reported by 60% and 30% of study participants, respectively. One possible reason for this pain relief is the effect of oxytocin, which has pain-relieving properties.
- Sex can take away memory
Each year, less than 7 out of 100,000 people suffer from transient global amnesia – sudden but temporary memory loss that is not associated with any neurological disorder. The triggers for this phenomenon can be: rough sex, emotional stress, pain, minor head injuries, medical procedures and sudden changes in temperature.
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Forgetfulness can last from a few minutes to several hours. During an amnestic episode, a person does not form new memories, he does not remember recent events. Fortunately, this condition is temporary.
Sex relieves pain, soothes and improves memory.
- Sex can improve memory
A 2010 study in rodents showed that regular sex (once a day for 2 weeks) increased the production of neurons in the hippocampus – area of the brain responsible for memory. It is not yet entirely clear whether such an effect of sex on the human brain is observed, but this can be easily checked for yourself.
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- Sex is soothing
This statement is true for humans as well. Studies show that people cope better with stressful situations after intercourse. In this case, the anti-stress effect of sex is due to the decrease in blood pressure, which leads to sexual intercourse.
- Sex makes you sleepy
This effect of sex is more common in men than in women. Sleepiness syndrome after sex is explained by the release of oxytocin and serotonin, as well as a decrease in the activity of the prefrontal cortex.
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Sex – not only pleasant, but also incredibly useful activity, which is characterized by a beneficial effect on the brain and the whole body, and also helps to strengthen relationships.
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