A study revealed that erotic imagery induces electrical reaction in women’s brain more quickly than in men’s minds, with images varying from agreeable to distressing. Researchers didn’t anticipate this result and were surprised to find that responses to erotic imagery were apparent so quickly, seemingly relating to different circuits than are involved in the process of registering other types of imagery.

Andrey Anokhin, the head of the study of at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, stated that he believed both agreeable and disturbing imagery would evoke a quick reaction; however, he found erotic imagery always induced the fastest result.

Two hundred sixty-four women were shown 55 images of people water-skiing, dogs snarling and partially clothed couples in sexual situations, as well as other scenes. Electrodes attached to the women’s scalps measured their neurological reactions. Electric signals fired 20 times faster in response to erotic imagery as compared to other images and also spread to other parts of the brain comparatively more then other sorts of imagery.

Previous studies suggested that men were more stimulated by sexual imagery than women; thus, Anokhin and his team were anticipating women subjects to react with decreased levels of brain activity as compared to their male counterparts. However, women’s responses were as strong as men’s. An EEG was utilized for the tests because it is capable of registering very small time variations; however, it cannot locate specific areas of brain activity—precision of that type would necessitate MRI and PET scans. Anokhin’s next query is whether or not the human prefrontal cortex contains special neurons designed for sex.