Newberg Andrew B, Wintering Nancy A, Hriso Chloe, Vedaei Faezeh, Stoner Marie, Ross Reneita
Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Front Psychol. 2021 Nov 11;12:708973. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.708973. eCollection 2021.
We measured changes in resting brain functional connectivity, with blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), associated with a creative meditation practice that is augmented by clitoral stimulation and is designed to not only achieve a spiritual experience but to help individuals manage their most intimate personal relationships. Briefly, the meditative state is attained by both the male and female participants while the male stimulates the woman's clitoris. The goal of this practice, called orgasmic meditation (OM), according to the practitioners is not sexual, but to use the focus on clitoral stimulation to facilitate a meditative state of connectedness and calm alertness between the two participants. fMRI was acquired on 20 pairs of subjects shortly following one of two states that were randomized in their order - during the OM practice or during a neutral condition. The practice is performed while the female is lying down on pillows with the clitoris exposed. During the practice, the male performs digital stimulation of the clitoris for 15 min. Resting BOLD image acquisition was performed at completion of the practice to assess changes in functional connectivity associated with the performance of the practice. The results demonstrated significant changes ( < 0.05) in functional connectivity associated with the OM compared to the neutral condition. For the entire group there was altered connectivity following the OM practice involving the left superior temporal lobe, the frontal lobe, anterior cingulate, and insula. In female subjects, there was altered connectivity involving the cerebellum, thalamus, inferior frontal lobe posterior parietal lobe, angular gyrus, amygdala and middle temporal gyrus, and prefrontal cortex. In males, functional connectivity changes involved the supramarginal gyrus, cerebellum, and orbitofrontal gyrus, cerebellum, parahippocampus, inferior temporal gyrus, and anterior cingulate. Overall, these findings suggest a complex pattern of functional connectivity changes occurring in both members of the couple pair that result from this unique meditation practice. The changes represent a hybrid of functional connectivity findings with some similarities to meditation based practices and some with sexual stimulation and orgasm. This study has broader implications for understanding the dynamic relationship between sexuality and spirituality.
我们使用血氧水平依赖（BOLD）功能磁共振成像（fMRI）测量了静息状态下大脑功能连接的变化，该变化与一种创造性冥想练习有关，这种练习通过阴蒂刺激得到增强，其设计目的不仅是为了获得一种精神体验，还旨在帮助个体处理他们最私密的人际关系。简而言之，男性和女性参与者在男性刺激女性阴蒂时达到冥想状态。根据练习者的说法，这种名为高潮冥想（OM）的练习的目标不是性行为，而是利用对阴蒂刺激的专注来促进两位参与者之间的连接以及平静警觉的冥想状态。在20对受试者中，按照随机顺序在两种状态之一后不久进行fMRI采集——在高潮冥想练习期间或在中性条件下。练习在女性躺在枕头上且阴蒂暴露的情况下进行。在练习过程中，男性对阴蒂进行15分钟的指压刺激。在练习结束时进行静息BOLD图像采集，以评估与练习表现相关的功能连接变化。结果表明，与中性条件相比，与高潮冥想相关的功能连接有显著变化（<0.05）。对于整个组而言，在高潮冥想练习后，涉及左颞上叶、额叶、前扣带回和脑岛的连接发生了改变。在女性受试者中，涉及小脑、丘脑、额下回、顶叶后叶、角回、杏仁核和颞中回以及前额叶皮质的连接发生了改变。在男性中，功能连接变化涉及缘上回、小脑和眶额回、小脑、海马旁回、颞下回以及前扣带回。总体而言，这些发现表明，这种独特的冥想练习会在夫妻双方中引发复杂的功能连接变化模式。这些变化代表了功能连接研究结果的一种混合，部分与基于冥想的练习相似，部分与性刺激和性高潮相似。这项研究对于理解性与精神性之间的动态关系具有更广泛的意义。
