Das weibliche Gehirn und Sex

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Gegenstand und Ziel Diese Übersichtsarbeit fasst wesentliche Befunde bildgebender Untersuchungen mit sexueller bzw. erotischer Stimulation und hormonelle Einflüsse bei Frauen zusammen.

Ergebnisse Im Vergleich zu Männern befassen sich bedeutend weniger bildgebende Studien mit Frauen und deren neurofunktioneller Verarbeitung sexueller Reize. Es zeigen sich heterogene Befunde in neurofunktionellen Korrelaten sexueller Stimulation bei Frauen, die durch unterschiedliche Paradigmen und Studiendesigns bedingt sein könnten. Bei Frauen führen eine Vielzahl erotischer Reize zu neurofunktionellen Aktivierungen in Regionen, die mit sexueller Reaktion in Verbindung gebracht werden. Nennenswert moduliert werden diese durch hormonelle Einflüsse im Rahmen des Menstruationszyklus, hormonelle Kontrazeption und Menopause, wenngleich spezifische Zuweisungen einzelner Hormone auf spezifische neurofunktionelle Aktivierungen noch offenbleiben. Es zeigten sich geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in der Hirnaktivität, insbesondere auf visuelle sexuelle Reize. Ein noch wenig untersuchter Prozess ist der weibliche Orgasmus in der Bildgebung.

Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Relevanz Ein vertieftes Verständnis der Sexualität mit einer breiteren Untersuchung von weiblichen Probanden ist für die Entwicklung eines umfassenden neurowissenschaftlichen Modells zur sexuellen Funktion von entscheidender Bedeutung. Dadurch wird ein Verständnis der sexuellen Funktion unabhängig vom Geschlecht oder der sexuellen Orientierung ermöglicht.

ABSTRACT

Objective This review summarizes the most relevant imaging studies focusing on neurofunctional activations corresponding to (visual) sexual stimulation in females and their hormonal modulation.

Results Compared to men, significantly fewer imaging studies focused on neurofunctional representations of sexual stimulation in females. Existing studies have demonstrated heterogeneous results, which could be due to the different study paradigms. It has been shown that a variety of stimuli can trigger sexual stimulation and arousal in women. The phase of the menstrual cycle, the type of hormonal contraceptive and menopause show influences on the brain’s reactions to sexual stimuli, however the precise influence remains uncertain. Gender-specific differences in brain activity have been identified, particularly in response to visual sexual stimuli. One process that has been under-researched is the female orgasm in imaging.

Conclusion A deeper understanding of sexuality with a broader study of female subjects is crucial for the development of a comprehensive neuroscientific model of sexual function. This will also enable an understanding of sexual function independent of gender or sexual orientation.

Schlüsselwörter

Sex - weibliches Gehirn - Bildgebung - hormonelle Einflüsse

Key words

Sex - female brain - imaging - hormonal influences

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Oktober 2024

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