Response to Stimuli. The new study, which was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, took a look at specific sexual stimuli and compared the results between men and women. In layman's terms, they took a look at both visual and physical sexual stimuli and determined if either was a greater turn-on to men and women.
The Study. The study was conducted by researchers from the McGill University in Montreal, Canada and used MRI's to measure brain activity during controlled sexual stimulants. The tests took images of the brain activity of participants while they watched pornographic material.
What Turns You On? In an effort to determine the largest contributor to sexual turn-ons, the researchers took a look at how each stimulant affected the brain patterns of all participants and then compared them against the others.
The Group. According to an article covering the study in Your Tango, the study took a look at "the brains of 40 heterosexual men and women (20 men, aged 18 to 31, and 20 women, aged 19 to 30) as they watched films of people engaging in sex." So what did they find?
Women Use Their Brains More. What they found, was that women tend to use their brains more for sexual stimulation than men do. While some may not be surprised by this fact, the explanation may change your mind.
Women Love Visual Stimulation More Than Men. When stating women use their brains more than men, researchers explained it meant in terms of visual stimulation. So what does that mean?
Against the Stereotypes. The research results showed that women were more turned on by watching pornographic images than men were. In contrast, men were more turned on by physical sensations and touching than women were.
Differences in Arousal. According to the article, "The scientists behind the study believe this particular variation may be linked to differences in the neurological arousal processes of men and women."
The Experiment. The participants were shown images of men and women having sex, interspersed with comedy show clips to give a baseline of brain activity during non-sexual stimulation. "The sitcom segments were meant to serve as a control mechanism, as well as to help distinguish between the brain's reaction to humorous as opposed to erotic arousal," Your Tango reports.
Thermal Imaging. As an added measure to the study, researchers used thermal imaging devices to monitor sexual stimulation in each of the participants' genitals during the study. Cameras were placed "near their genitals so that experimenters could observe any visible signs of increased sexual stimulation," the article states.
Survey Questions. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to complete a series of questions related to levels of arousal through the stimulants provided. The questionnaire was given in private in order to allow for the most accurate answers possible.
Study Findings. Researchers stated, "Genital arousal in women was more strongly linked with changes in brain activity, across numerous regions, than men. The finding was unexpected because most previous research has suggested that the correlations between genital response and subjective arousal are stronger for men."
Visual Stimulants Prove Greatest Turn-On. In summary of the study, visual stimulants proved to have the greatest effect on female arousal than any others - even greater than the same situation for men.
The Findings. "Our findings shed light on the neurophysiologic processes involved in genital arousal for men and women. Further research examining the specific brain regions that mediate our findings is necessary to pave the way for clinical application," researchers wrote.
Opening Doors. Those involved in the study hope its findings will help open doors to further testing and insight into the sexual arousal triggers for men and women. The first of its kind to show results against the stereotypes, the study is breaking barriers in the world of sexual communication.
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