{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T01:20:51Z","timestamp":1792200051693,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,11]],"date-time":"2021-11-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1636588800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:bold>Background:<\/jats:bold> We measured changes in resting brain functional connectivity, with blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), associated with a creative meditation practice that is augmented by clitoral stimulation and is designed to not only achieve a spiritual experience but to help individuals manage their most intimate personal relationships. Briefly, the meditative state is attained by both the male and female participants while the male stimulates the woman\u2019s clitoris. The goal of this practice, called orgasmic meditation (OM), according to the practitioners is not sexual, but to use the focus on clitoral stimulation to facilitate a meditative state of connectedness and calm alertness between the two participants.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:<\/jats:bold> fMRI was acquired on 20 pairs of subjects shortly following one of two states that were randomized in their order \u2013 during the OM practice or during a neutral condition. The practice is performed while the female is lying down on pillows with the clitoris exposed. During the practice, the male performs digital stimulation of the clitoris for 15 min. Resting BOLD image acquisition was performed at completion of the practice to assess changes in functional connectivity associated with the performance of the practice.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results:<\/jats:bold> The results demonstrated significant changes (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.05) in functional connectivity associated with the OM compared to the neutral condition. For the entire group there was altered connectivity following the OM practice involving the left superior temporal lobe, the frontal lobe, anterior cingulate, and insula. In female subjects, there was altered connectivity involving the cerebellum, thalamus, inferior frontal lobe posterior parietal lobe, angular gyrus, amygdala and middle temporal gyrus, and prefrontal cortex. In males, functional connectivity changes involved the supramarginal gyrus, cerebellum, and orbitofrontal gyrus, cerebellum, parahippocampus, inferior temporal gyrus, and anterior cingulate.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion:<\/jats:bold> Overall, these findings suggest a complex pattern of functional connectivity changes occurring in both members of the couple pair that result from this unique meditation practice. The changes represent a hybrid of functional connectivity findings with some similarities to meditation based practices and some with sexual stimulation and orgasm. This study has broader implications for understanding the dynamic relationship between sexuality and spirituality.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.708973","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,11]],"date-time":"2021-11-11T04:45:06Z","timestamp":1636605906000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Alterations in Functional Connectivity Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Relationship With Heart Rate Variability in Subjects After Performing Orgasmic Meditation: An Exploratory Study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Andrew B.","family":"Newberg","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nancy A.","family":"Wintering","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chloe","family":"Hriso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Faezeh","family":"Vedaei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marie","family":"Stoner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Reneita","family":"Ross","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.2741\/S542","article-title":"Neural correlates of meditation: a review of structural and functional MRI studies.","volume":"12","author":"Afonso","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Biosci. (Schol. Ed.)"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1111\/nyas.12360","article-title":"The default network and self-generated thought: component processes, dynamic control, and clinical relevance.","volume":"1316","author":"Andrews-Hanna","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2007.04.042","article-title":"A component based noise correction method (CompCor) for BOLD and perfusion based fMRI.","volume":"37","author":"Behzadi","year":"2007","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20254","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1112029108","article-title":"Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity.","volume":"108","author":"Brewer","year":"2011","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e01389","DOI":"10.1002\/brb3.1389","article-title":"Neuroanatomy and function of human sexual behavior: a neglected or unknown issue?","volume":"9","author":"Calabr\u00f2","year":"2019","journal-title":"Brain Behav."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.2466\/02.04.22.PMS.111.4.291-306","article-title":"Meditation-specific prefrontal cortical activation during acem meditation: an fMRI study.","volume":"111","author":"Davanger","year":"2010","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Skills"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"566","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci11050566","article-title":"Attention and default mode network assessments of meditation experience during active cognition and rest.","volume":"11","author":"Devaney","year":"2021","journal-title":"Brain Sci."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"673","DOI":"10.3233\/JAD-150653","article-title":"Changes in neural connectivity and memory following a Yoga intervention for older adults: a pilot study.","volume":"52","author":"Eyre","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Alzheimers Dis."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2016.03.021","article-title":"Functional neuroanatomy of meditation: a review and meta-analysis of 78 functional neuroimaging investigations.","volume":"65","author":"Fox","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"712","DOI":"10.3758\/s13415-015-0358-3","article-title":"Meditation leads to reduced default mode network activity beyond an active task.","volume":"15","author":"Garrison","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cogn. Affect. Behav. Neurosci."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2009.12.034","article-title":"Dynamic subcortical blood flow during male sexual activity with ecological validity: a perfusion fMRI study.","volume":"50","author":"Georgiadis","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3305","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1460-9568.2006.05206.x","article-title":"Regional cerebral blood flow changes associated with clitorally induced orgasm in healthy women.","volume":"24","author":"Georgiadis","year":"2006","journal-title":"Eur. J. Neurosci."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"750","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2011.07.008","article-title":"Mind wandering and attention during focused meditation: a fine-grained temporal analysis of fluctuating cognitive states.","volume":"59","author":"Hasenkamp","year":"2012","journal-title":"NeuroImage"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroscience.2017.12.017","article-title":"Gray matter and functional connectivity in anterior cingulate cortex are associated with the state of mental silence during Sahaja yoga meditation.","volume":"371","author":"Hern\u00e1ndez","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neuroscience"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1159\/000119450","article-title":"Changed pattern of regional glucose blood flow during yoga meditative relaxation.","volume":"23","author":"Herzog","year":"","journal-title":"Neuropsychobiology"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9185","DOI":"10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.23-27-09185.2003","article-title":"Brain activation during human male ejaculation.","volume":"23","author":"Holstege","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Neurosci."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1857","DOI":"10.1007\/s12671-018-0928-x","article-title":"Differences in functional connectivity of the insula between brain wave vibration in meditators and non-meditators.","volume":"9","author":"Jang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mindfulness (N Y)"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2015.00603","article-title":"Network-based characterization of brain functional connectivity in Zen practitioners.","volume":"6","author":"Kemmer","year":"2015","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"956","DOI":"10.1097\/MNM.0b013e32832fa26c","article-title":"Cerebral blood flow changes during chanting meditation.","volume":"30","author":"Khalsa","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nucl. Med. Commun."},{"key":"B20","first-page":"62","article-title":"Functional MRI of the brain during orgasm in women.","volume":"16","author":"Komisaruk","year":"2005","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Sex Res."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainres.2004.07.029","article-title":"Brain activation during vaginocervical self-stimulation and orgasm in women with complete spinal cord injury: fMRI evidence of mediation by the vagus nerves.","volume":"1024","author":"Komisaruk","year":"2004","journal-title":"Brain Res."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112828","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbr.2020.112828","article-title":"Cortical reorganization processes in meditation na\u00efve participants induced by 7 weeks focused attention meditation training.","volume":"395","author":"Lenhart","year":"2020","journal-title":"Behav. Brain Res."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.3389\/fcvm.2019.00062","article-title":"Changes in heart rate variability during heartfulness meditation: a power spectral analysis including the residual spectrum.","volume":"6","author":"L\u00e9onard","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Cardiovasc. Med."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102760","DOI":"10.1016\/j.concog.2019.05.008","article-title":"Absorption and spiritual experience: a review of evidence and potential mechanisms.","volume":"73","author":"Lifshitz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Conscious. Cogn."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1897","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0001897","article-title":"Regulation of the neural circuitry of emotion by compassion meditation: effects of meditative expertise.","volume":"3","author":"Lutz","year":"2008","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1007\/s12671-015-0482-8","article-title":"Mindful aging: the effects of regular brief mindfulness practice on electrophysiological markers of cognitive and affective processing in older adults.","volume":"8","author":"Malinowski","year":"2017","journal-title":"Mindfulness"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresbull.2010.03.001","article-title":"Neural correlates of focused attention and cognitive monitoring in meditation.","volume":"82","author":"Manna","year":"2010","journal-title":"Brain Res. Bull."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"R998","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2006.10.041","article-title":"Functional imaging: is the resting brain resting?","volume":"16","author":"Miall","year":"2006","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"806","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2013.00806","article-title":"Toward a unifying taxonomy and definition for meditation.","volume":"4","author":"Nash","year":"2013","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1016\/s0306-9877(03)00175-0","article-title":"The neural basis of the complex mental task of meditation: neurotransmitter and neurochemical considerations.","volume":"61","author":"Newberg","year":"2003","journal-title":"Med. Hypotheses"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pscychresns.2006.07.001","article-title":"The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during glossolalia: a preliminary SPECT study.","volume":"148","author":"Newberg","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.3233\/JAD-2010-1391","article-title":"Meditation effects on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow in subjects with memory loss: a preliminary study.","volume":"20","author":"Newberg","year":"","journal-title":"J. Alzheimers Dis."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"899","DOI":"10.1016\/j.concog.2010.05.003","article-title":"Cerebral blood flow differences between long-term meditators and non-meditators.","volume":"19","author":"Newberg","year":"","journal-title":"Conscious. Cogn."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/s0925-4927(01)00074-9","article-title":"The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during the complex cognitive task of meditation: a preliminary SPECT study.","volume":"106","author":"Newberg","year":"2001","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1805","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijcard.2013.06.086","article-title":"Meditation: should a cardiologist care?","volume":"168","author":"Olex","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Cardiol."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2007.05.026","article-title":"Correlation between insula activation and self-reported quality of orgasm in women.","volume":"37","author":"Ortigue","year":"2007","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"676","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.98.2.676","article-title":"A default mode of brain function.","volume":"98","author":"Raichle","year":"2001","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2017.00258","article-title":"An overview of heart rate variability metrics and norms.","volume":"5","author":"Shaffer","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front. Public Health"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2015.05.015","article-title":"Optimization of rs-fMRI pre-processing for enhanced signal-noise separation, test-retest reliability, and group discrimination.","volume":"117","author":"Shirer","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1007\/s12671-020-01502-7","article-title":"The impact of App-delivered mindfulness meditation on functional connectivity and self-reported mindfulness among health profession trainees.","volume":"12","author":"Smith","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mindfulness (N Y)"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12569","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0800005105","article-title":"A critical role for the right fronto-insular cortex in switching between central-executive and default-mode networks.","volume":"105","author":"Sridharan","year":"2008","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A."},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19591","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1308499110","article-title":"Persistence of hippocampal multivoxel patterns into postencoding rest is related to memory.","volume":"110","author":"Tambini","year":"2013","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.4172\/2161-0487.1000185","article-title":"A fMRI study of stages of yoga meditation described in traditional texts.","volume":"5","author":"Telles","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Psychol. Psychother."},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1177\/1550059418790717","article-title":"P300 and heart rate variability recorded simultaneously in meditation.","volume":"50","author":"Telles","year":"2019","journal-title":"Clin. EEG Neurosci."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3940(94)90328-x","article-title":"Increase in cerebral blood flow of right prefrontal cortex in man during orgasm.","volume":"170","author":"Tiihonen","year":"1994","journal-title":"Neurosci. Lett."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-6131.183712","article-title":"Yoga and heart rate variability: a comprehensive review of the literature.","volume":"9","author":"Tyagi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Yoga"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"496","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nsv133","article-title":"Neural signatures of experimentally induced flow experiences identified in a typical fMRI block design with BOLD imaging.","volume":"11","author":"Ulrich","year":"2016","journal-title":"Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci."},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2010.01.026","article-title":"The spiritual brain: selective cortical lesions modulate human self-transcendence.","volume":"65","author":"Urgesi","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pscychresns.2010.09.011","article-title":"Cerebral blood flow changes associated with different meditation practices and perceived depth of meditation.","volume":"191","author":"Wang","year":"2011","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neulet.2013.10.001","article-title":"Meditation\u2019s impact on default mode network and hippocampus in mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study.","volume":"556","author":"Wells","year":"2013","journal-title":"Neurosci. Lett."},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1089\/brain.2012.0073","article-title":"Conn: a functional connectivity toolbox for correlated and anticorrelated brain networks.","volume":"2","author":"Whitfield-Gabrieli","year":"2012","journal-title":"Brain Connect."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.708973\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,11]],"date-time":"2021-11-11T04:45:14Z","timestamp":1636605914000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.708973\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,11]]},"references-count":51,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.708973"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.708973","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,11]]},"article-number":"708973"}}