The interest in neurobiological correlates of sexuality as well as the hope for a better understanding of sexual dysfunction or phenomena like transvestism and paedophilia has inspired several functional imaging studies in the past years. Brain regions related to sexual stimulation and arousal were identified and differences in the processing of sexual stimuli between men and women and between homo- and heterosexual subjects were suggested. Concerning sexual dysfunction, the investigations allow speculating on neurobiological correlates of the respective problems. Imaging sexual arousal using functional neuroimaging techniques thus can be of use in the development of new therapeutic options concerning pharmacological treatment as well as psychotherapy of sexual dysfunction.
Keywords
Sexuality - fMRI - sex differences - sexual orientation
