In Germany, researchers stimulated the clitoris of a group of women using a device. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), they were able to identify the region of the brain linked to the stimulation of this organ. This discovery is a source of hope for women who have undergone mutilation.
Some organs have not yet found their place in the brain map of the human body , in other words the somatosensory cortex. The latter's mission is to capture and integrate the sensory information that our body constantly sends to our brain. Among these organs, we find the clitoris. However, in a study published in the Journal Of Neuroscience on December 9, 2021, researchers from the Freie Universität Berlin (Germany) say they have identified the region of the brain linked to its stimulation . As part of this study, the researchers performed an MRI scan on around 20 female volunteers aged between 18 and 45 years old. At the time of the examination, these same women were using a tactile device in order to stimulate their clitoris.
While this study is not the first to explore this subject, the place of the clitoris in the somatosensory cortex was subject to debate. Some researchers located it near the hip, others near the foot. However, the lack of clarity about this location resulted from an altered brain response . For example, when the clitoris is stimulated by a partner (or an imprecise device), other parts of the body are stimulated as well. German researchers have therefore designed a device that ensures a brain response to the stimulation of the clitoris alone (see below).
According to the results, the position of the clitoris in the somatosensory cortex is next to the hip, as is that of the penis. More precisely, it is found at the level of Brodmann areas 1, 2 and 3a along the postcentral gyrus . However, the exact position varies between each woman.
In addition, the thickness of the ten most active areas was measured for each participant. The objective here was to establish a link between the structure of the brain and the frequency of sexual intercourse. Scientists claim to have discovered an association between this frequency and the thickness of the genital area. In other words, women who often have sex have a thicker clitoris stimulation brain area . Nevertheless, the study does not directly prove that coitus is the cause of this difference in thickness. Further research will have to be carried out in this direction to obtain certainties.
In any case, this research could be used to make progress on the care of women who have suffered sexual violence such as mutilation . The device would then make it possible to measure the signals of pleasure after the repair of the female organ in addition to the essential psychological support.
