Research Center for Cross-Straits Cultural Development, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Brain Behav. 2023 Aug;13(8):e3160. doi: 10.1002/brb3.3160. Epub 2023 Jul 17.
Being choked/strangled during partnered sex is an emerging sexual behavior, particularly prevalent among young adult women. Using a multiparameter morphometric imaging approach, we aimed to characterize neuroanatomical differences between young adult women (18-30 years old) who were exposed to frequent sexual choking and their choking naïve controls.
This cross-sectional study consisted of two groups (choking [≥4 times in the past 30 days] vs. choking-naïve group). Participants who reported being choked four or more times during sex in the past 30 days were enrolled in the choking group, whereas those without were assigned to the choking naïve group. High-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were analyzed using both volumetric features (cortical thickness) and geometric features (fractal dimensionality, gyrification, sulcal depth).
Forty-one participants (choking n = 20; choking-naïve n = 21) contributed to the final analysis. The choking group showed significantly increased cortical thickness across multiple regions (e.g., fusiform, lateral occipital, lingual gyri) compared to the choking-naïve group. Widespread reductions of the gyrification were observed in the choking group as opposed to the choking-naïve group. However, there was no group difference in sulcal depth. The fractal dimensionality showed bi-directional results, where the choking group exhibited increased dimensionality in areas including the postcentral gyrus, insula, and fusiform, whereas decreased dimensionality was observed in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and pericalcarine cortex.
These data in cortical morphology suggest that sexual choking events may be associated with neuroanatomical alteration. A longitudinal study with multimodal assessment is needed to better understand the temporal ordering of sexual choking and neurological outcomes.
在伴侣性行为中被勒/窒息是一种新兴的性行为，尤其在年轻成年女性中较为普遍。本研究采用多参数形态计量成像方法，旨在对有过频繁性窒息经历的年轻成年女性（18-30 岁）和无窒息经历的对照组的神经解剖结构差异进行特征描述。
本横断面研究包括两个组（有过性窒息经历[过去 30 天内 4 次或以上]和无窒息经历组）。过去 30 天内有过 4 次或以上性窒息经历的参与者被纳入窒息组，而无此经历的参与者被分配到无窒息经历组。采用高分辨率解剖磁共振成像（MRI）数据进行分析，包括体积特征（皮质厚度）和几何特征（分形维数、脑回复杂度、脑沟深度）。
41 名参与者（窒息组 n=20；无窒息组 n=21）完成了最终分析。与无窒息经历组相比，窒息组多个区域（如梭状回、外侧枕叶、舌回）的皮质厚度明显增加。与无窒息经历组相比，窒息组的脑回复杂度广泛降低。但脑沟深度无组间差异。分形维数存在双向结果，其中窒息组的中央后回、岛叶和梭状回的维度增加，而双侧额上回和距状皮层的维度降低。
这些皮质形态学数据表明，性窒息事件可能与神经解剖结构改变有关。需要进行多模态评估的纵向研究，以更好地了解性窒息和神经学结果之间的时间顺序。
