Sexual intimacy: understanding orgasmic analgesias effect on decision making

The human body has several parts that are responsible for different functions. One such part is the prefrontal cortex of the brain which is responsible for decision-making, impulse control, planning, and other cognitive processes. During an orgasm, the activity of this part is reduced temporarily resulting in a decrease in self-awareness. This effect is known as orgasmic analgesia and it occurs when people experience pleasure from their genitals. Orgasmic analgesia is observed in both men and women during orgasm but its intensity varies between individuals. It affects everyone differently. Some people may feel euphoria while others might just feel numbness or nothing at all. The reduction in self-awareness caused by orgasmic analgesia can be explained through the neurophysiology of the brain. When you touch your genitals, sensory nerves send signals to the spinal cord which then travel up to the brain where they are processed. The amygdala region of the brain is activated and releases dopamine hormone which makes you feel good about yourself. However, during orgasm, the activation of the amygdala is reduced due to the release of oxytocin hormone which reduces self-awareness. People who have high levels of oxytocin tend to experience more intense orgasms with lesser self-awareness than those who have low levels of oxytocin. This phenomenon is also seen in animals such as rats and mice. Studies show that rats that receive oxytocin before mating display higher levels of sexually motivated behaviors compared to those that do not receive it. Oxytocin plays a crucial role in bonding and pairing behavior in humans as well as other species. During orgasm, oxytocin levels rise dramatically resulting in decreased awareness of pain and increased feeling of pleasure. The effect lasts for several minutes after the climax subsides. In conclusion, orgasm reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain causing a decrease in self-awareness which results in euphoria or even numbness depending on individual differences.