Table II.

Comparing brain activation of men and women during orgasm

Side	Brain regions	BA	Voxels	x	y	z	t
Common activations for men and women
L	Cerebellar vermis, anterior lobe	–	279	−6	−56	−8	4.31a
M	Deep cerebellar nuclei/pons	–	249	0	−40	−26	3.94a , b
Common deactivations for men and women
R	Gyrus rectus (medial orbitofrontal cortex)	11	594	2	34	−22	4.28a
L	Inferior frontal gyrus (lateral/middle orbitofrontal cortex)	47	100	−34	32	−18	4.09a
L	Middle frontal gyrus (frontal pole)	10	395	−34	56	−4	4.08a
L	Superior frontal gyrus	10	93	−26	46	28	3.81
L	fusiform gyrus	20	33	−46	−32	−30	3.72
L	Superior temporal gyrus	22	38	−44	−16	8	3.57
L	Medial frontal gyrus (frontal pole)	10	27	−10	60	−18	3.45a
L	Inferior frontal gyrus	47	13	−40	22	−4	3.44a
L	Middle frontal gyrus	9	26	−34	24	38	3.36
Men > women
L	Dorsal midbrain/periaqueductal gray matter (PAG)	–	40	0	−32	−2	3.95b
L	Lingual gyrus	19	23	−26	−56	−4	3.54
Women > men
R	Insula	13	230	40	−20	14	4.33b

Within‐gender, brain activation during orgasm was compared to brain activation of sexual genital stimulation (ORG vs. STIM). Gender commonalities were found by conjunction and gender differences by mutual subtraction of these within‐gender t contrasts. The statistical threshold for brain regions listed in the table is P < 0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons (t = 3.15). Coordinates refer to the MNI (Montréal Neurological Institute) coordinate system.

^aRegion included in a priori hypothesis.

^bRegion with proven relevance for sexual behavior.

BA, Brodmann's Area; L, left hemisphere; R, right hemisphere; t, t value; x, distance (mm) relative to midsagittal plane (+, right; −, left); y, distance (mm) relative to anterior commissure (+, anterior; −, posterior); z, distance (mm) relative to intercommissural line (+, dorsal; −, ventral).