A meditation practice augmented by clitoral stimulation, called orgasmic meditation (OM), alters resting brain functional connectivity in both male and female participants. After a 15-minute session where the male stimulates the female's clitoris, functional magnetic resonance imaging showed significant changes in brain regions including the left superior temporal lobe, frontal lobe, anterior cingulate, and insula for the entire group. Females showed additional connectivity changes in the cerebellum, thalamus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, while males showed changes in the supramarginal gyrus, cerebellum, and orbitofrontal gyrus. These changes represent a hybrid of patterns seen in meditation and sexual stimulation, suggesting a dynamic relationship between sexuality and spirituality.
During Orgasmic Meditation, a partnered practice combining clitoral stimulation with meditation, brain activity in both men and women showed a hybrid pattern between typical meditation and sexual stimulation. In women, significant decreases in glucose metabolism occurred in the left inferior frontal, inferior parietal, insula, middle temporal, and orbitofrontal regions, as well as the right angular gyrus, anterior cingulate, and parahippocampus. Men showed decreased metabolism in the left middle frontal, paracentral, precentral, and postcentral regions and the right middle frontal and paracentral regions, alongside increased metabolism in the cerebellum and right postcentral and superior temporal regions. These distinct patterns may inform understanding of the link between spiritual and sexual experience.
Long-term practitioners of a meditation practice involving clitoral stimulation (OM) show different patterns of resting brain metabolism compared to non-meditators. In the OM group, metabolic activity was significantly lower in select areas of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as the anterior cingulate, insula, and thalamus. Females in the OM group showed notably lower metabolism in the thalamus and insula compared to males. These brain regions are involved in cognition, attention, and emotional regulation, suggesting potential implications for therapeutic uses in neurological or psychiatric conditions.