What Your Brain Reveals About Your Sex Life

Ever notice how some people were born with a hyper sex drive? Well, it could all be in their heads—seriously: People who have had more sexual partners also show brain activity that suggests they have a heightened sensitivity to sexual stimuli, according to a new study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

Researchers asked 62 people about their sexual histories, then monitored their brain activity using electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings as they viewed over 200 images. The photos were a mix of pleasant, neutral, unpleasant, and sexual images; though the sexual pictures ranged from G-rated affection (like kissing) to explicit, NSFW content. As the participants looked at the images, the researchers noted any changes in brain activity. Specifically, they were looking at something called late positive potential (LPP), which is a part of our brainwaves that reacts when you find something appealing.

What they found was that people who reported having more sexual partners (about two or more in the last year) showed more brain activity than people with fewer sexual partners when viewing all of the sexual images—from the tame ones to the explicit ones. It suggests that those people with a higher sex drive are the same people who are most sensitive to all types of sexual stimuli, says lead study author Nicole Prause, Ph.D., an assistant research scientist at UCLA.

It seems that heightened sexual responses may stem from the brain, meaning that it's possible some people are just "wired" to be more sexual. Of course, this only shows a correlation, and the authors aren't exactly sure why this link exists. For instance, it's possible that heightened brain sensitivity is genetic, or that having more sex can increase a person's sensitivity to sexual stimuli, says Prause.

Still, it's interesting stuff! But even though this suggests your brain can play a role in how inherently sexual you are, it obviously doesn't have total control. Tons of other things can impact your libido—like your stress level,your fitness routine, and even your birth control. And even if you brain is "wired" to love sex, it's still a good idea to ask yourself these four questions before you hook up with someone that you might regret later.