Although scientists have long been studying the pleasure center, there hadn't been much research about how it relates to sexual pleasure, especially in women

there aren't too many differences between men's and women's brains when it comes to sex. In both, the brain region behind the left eye, called the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, shuts down during orgasm

It's the seat of reason and behavioral control

you lose control

When a woman has sex, a part of the brain stem called the periaqueductal gray (PAG) is activated. The PAG controls the "flight or fight"

and hippocampus, which deal with fear

the area of the cortex associated with pain was activated in women, which shows that there is a distinct connection between pain and pleasure

Inside this Article

1. What happens in the brain during an orgasm?
2. Orgasms and Nerves
3. Pleasure Center of the Brain: Light It Up

4. Neither Here Nor There: Anorgasmia and Non-genital Orgasms
5. Lots More Information