SAN FRANCISCO — Adult retailer Good Vibrations has long espoused that the biggest sex organ is your brain — and now a Rutger’s study has bolstered the claim with hard scientific evidence.
Professor Barry Komisaruk measured the blood flow to the brains of women during climax and found that orgasms increase brain activity throughout the entire brain (as opposed to specific regions). When compared to other brain-boosting activities, such as crossword puzzles, the study found that orgasms yield superior benefits.
"Mental exercises increase brain activity but only in relatively localized regions. Orgasm activates the whole,” Komisaruk said. “At orgasm we see a tremendous increase in the blood flow to the brain. It brings all the nutrients and oxygenation to the brain."
He also found that orgasms inhibit pain — which may have interesting practical implications, Good Vibrations resident sexologist Dr. Carol Queen said, noting that women have been using sexual release to combat menstrual cramps for a long time.
Queen weighed in on the topic: "No two orgasms are exactly alike. some are overpowering and involve the entire body, some feel very genitally centered, even though they are in fact occurring in the brain itself and others are barely there — some women are not even certain whether they've climaxed at all.
“Learning more about orgasm, arousal and pleasure anatomy lets us optimize these sensations and get more out of sex and masturbation. We've always known orgasm was good for you and Dr. Komisaruk's important research continues to elucidate the many reasons why."
Queen says that “students of pleasure” can find answers to sexual queries on Good Vibrations’ website (“What is an Orgasm?”) and at various workshops on the subject, like “I'll Have What She's Having: All About Orgasm!” presented by sex educator Reid Mihalko on Friday, August 16 at the Good Vibrations Polk Street store in S.F.
Reid offers tools, tips and tricks to explore, understand and become proficient in the art of the climax.
According to Good Vibrations, Queen answers the perennial question “How do I have stronger orgasms” in her “Ask the Doc” column in Good Vibrations’ online magazine.
