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PIEZO2 function is needed for triggering a touch-evoked erection reflex and successful mating in both male and female mice. Humans with complete loss of PIEZO2 function have genital hyposensitivity and experience no direct pleasure from gentle touch or vibration. Together, our results help explain how perineal mechanoreceptors detect the gentlest of stimuli and trigger physiologically important sexual responses, thus providing a platform for exploring the sensory basis of sexual pleasure and its relationship to affective touch.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1126\/science.adg0144","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,24]],"date-time":"2023-08-24T14:00:51Z","timestamp":1692885651000},"page":"906-910","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.34133\/aaas_crossmark","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":59,"title":["PIEZO2 and perineal mechanosensation are essential for sexual function"],"prefix":"10.1126","volume":"381","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3077-3907","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Ruby M.","family":"Lam","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA."},{"name":"Brown-National Institutes of Health Graduate Partnerships Program, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8882-8333","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Lars J.","family":"von Buchholtz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5243-4714","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Melanie","family":"Falgairolle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3246-9255","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Jennifer","family":"Osborne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0069-4754","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Eleni","family":"Frangos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7452-9260","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"M. 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