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http://dx.doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2012.13.3.257

Brain Activation in Response to Visually Evoked Sexual Arousal in Male-to-Female Transsexuals: 3.0 Tesla Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging  

Oh, Seok-Kyun (Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Engineering, Chonnam National University)
Kim, Gwang-Won (Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Engineering, Chonnam National University)
Yang, Jong-Chul (Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School)
Kim, Seok-Kwun (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine)
Kang, Heoung-Keun (Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Chonnam National University Hospital)
Jeong, Gwang-Woo (Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Engineering, Chonnam National University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Radiology / v.13, no.3, 2012 , pp. 257-264 More about this Journal
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.
Keywords
MTF transsexuals; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Sexual arousal; Sexual orientation; Brain activation;
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