Affective neuroscience: applications for sexual medicine research and clinical practice.

Introduction: Affective neuroscience is the study of the brain substrates of emotional, embodied experiences. Affective neuroscience theory (ANT) is based on experimental evidence that all mammals are hardwired with 7 primary subcortical emotional operating systems, or "core emotions," that have overlapping but distinct circuits buried in the deep, ancient parts of the brain. Imbalances in the 7 core emotions can affect multiple aspects of the individual's psychosocial well-being (eg, depression, anxiety, substance abuse).

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies in Sexual Medicine: A Primer.

Background: Over the past 30 years, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has emerged as a powerful tool to non-invasively study the activity and function of the human brain. But along with the potential of fMRI to shed light on neurological, psychiatric, and psychological processes, there are methodological challenges and criticisms.

Aim: We herein provide an fMRI primer designed for a diverse audience, from the neuroimaging novice to the experienced user.

Male Urogenital System Mapped Onto the Sensory Cortex: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence.

Introduction: The projection of the human male urogenital system onto the paracentral lobule has not previously been mapped comprehensively.

Aim: To map specific urogenital structures onto the primary somatosensory cortex toward a better understanding of sexual response in men.

Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we mapped primary somatosensory cortical responses to self-stimulation of the penis shaft, glans, testicles, scrotum, rectum, urethra, prostate, perineum, and nipple.

Activation of sensory cortex by imagined genital stimulation: an fMRI analysis.

Background: During the course of a previous study, our laboratory made a serendipitous finding that just thinking about genital stimulation resulted in brain activations that overlapped with, and differed from, those generated by physical genital stimulation.

Objective: This study extends our previous findings by further characterizing how the brain differentially processes physical 'touch' stimulation and 'imagined' stimulation.

Design: Eleven healthy women (age range 29-74) participated in an fMRI study of the brain response to imagined or actual tactile stimulation of the nipple and clitoris.

Women's clitoris, vagina, and cervix mapped on the sensory cortex: fMRI evidence.

Introduction: The projection of vagina, uterine cervix, and nipple to the sensory cortex in humans has not been reported.

Aims: The aim of this study was to map the sensory cortical fields of the clitoris, vagina, cervix, and nipple, toward an elucidation of the neural systems underlying sexual response.

Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we mapped sensory cortical responses to clitoral, vaginal, cervical, and nipple self-stimulation.