Is having sex a function of the brain's right or left hemisphere?

Let me start by saying I strongly disagree with the popular conceptualization of brain lateralization. There are very few actions that are strictly governed by one half of the brain or the other, and even those often change if you are left-handed.

Can you be a little more specific about what part of sex you want to localize? The physical act of in-and-out is governed by your primary motor cortex, which lies anterior to (in front of) the central sulcus. The sensations you feel pass through the thalamus in the brain stem, which routes them throughout your cortex to areas responsible for vision (assuming your eyes are open), olfaction, somatosensation, audition, proprioception, and any other senses that are engaged. Each of these has a specific pathway and arrives at a particular place in the cortex. So which part of sex are you curious about?

Both hemispheres are involved. fMRIs of the brains of male subjects in a state of sexual arousal showed strong activation in the inferior temporal lobe (both sides), the thalamus (both sides), the corpus callosum (which connects the hemispheres), and the cingulate gyrus (also between the hemispheres).

(source)

I was referring to the whole shebang: physical act, sensations and all. Lurve to you Niki =)

All I know is there is nothing sexier than an aroused corpus callosum!

neuro-porn

I love lying anterior to the central sulcus…

Puts a whole new slant to the phrase ‘blow my mind”, don’t you think?

(giggle)