The New York Times reported a study carried out by a German Biological Cybernetics Institute “to observe how brain responds to visual stimuli”. The head researcher chose to use sexual imagery because it invokes especially strong signals in the brain as well as change in blood flow.

Their findings were fascinating.

According to the results, women had largely the same reaction to pornographic imagery as men did. The research was actually titled, “Neural Substrates of Sexual Arousal Are Not Sex Dependent,” meaning that contrary to what we’ve been told and believe, women’s brains are just as responsive to and aroused by sexual imagery as men.

These findings really shouldn’t be taken lightly or dismissed. Understanding that female sexuality is essentially as active and easily aroused is key to improving sex for women and the many issues that surround it. People feeling shame or not having a healthy outlet to express their sexuality has been linked to depression and isolation, not to mention the breakdown of a relationship.