Brain Activation in Response to Visually Evoked Sexual Arousal in Male-to-Female Transsexuals: 3.0 Tesla Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
10.3348/kjr.2012.13.3.257
- Author:
Seok Kyun OH
1
;
Gwang Won KIM
;
Jong Chul YANG
;
Seok Kwun KIM
;
Heoung Keun KANG
;
Gwang Woo JEONG
Author Information
1. Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea. gwjeong@jnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
MTF transsexuals;
Functional magnetic resonance imaging;
Sexual arousal;
Sexual orientation;
Brain activation
- MeSH:
Adult;
Arousal/physiology;
Brain Mapping/*methods;
Erotica;
Female;
Gonadal Steroid Hormones/blood;
Humans;
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Photic Stimulation;
Transsexualism/*psychology
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2012;13(3):257-264
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to contrast the differential brain activation patterns in response to visual stimulation with both male and female erotic nude pictures in male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals who underwent a sex reassignment surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of nine healthy MTF transsexuals after a sex reassignment surgery underwent fMRI on a 3.0 Tesla MR Scanner. The brain activation patterns were induced by visual stimulation with both male and female erotic nude pictures. RESULTS: The sex hormone levels of the postoperative MTF transsexuals were in the normal range of healthy heterosexual females. The brain areas, which were activated by viewing male nude pictures when compared with viewing female nude pictures, included predominantly the cerebellum, hippocampus, putamen, anterior cingulate gyrus, head of caudate nucleus, amygdala, midbrain, thalamus, insula, and body of caudate nucleus. On the other hand, brain activation induced by viewing female nude pictures was predominantly observed in the hypothalamus and the septal area. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that distinct brain activation patterns associated with visual sexual arousal in postoperative MTF transsexuals reflect their sexual orientation to males.
