Unisex Genital Maps in the Brain

Genitals are represented unisex in the brain of the rat. Press release.

Lenschow, Copley, Gardiner, Talbot, Vitenzon and Brecht used physiological and anatomical techniques to uncover a large and robust genital representation in a region of rat somatosensory cortex previously assigned as leg/forelimb cortex. Size, shape and erect posture give the cortical penis representation a phallic appearance pointing to a role in sexually aroused states. Despite the marked sexual dimorphism of rat external genitals, anatomical cortical maps of penis and clitoris showed a stunning monomorphism (please see the Figure attached below).

Lenschow et al. Figure: Anatomical maps of male (left) and female (right) bodies in the neocortex of the rat; body maps are revealed by a stain for metabolic activity (Cytochrome oxidase histochemistry). Maps were interpreted by alignment to physiological recordings (bottom drawings). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of such maps revealed a sexual monomorphism of cortical genitals.

 

Original publications:
Lenschow at al., 2015, Current Biology 26, 1-8, January 11, 2015 © Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.11.041
Lenschow C, Copley S, Gardiner JM, Talbot ZN, Vitenzon A, Brecht M (2015) Sexually Monomorphic Maps and Dimorphic Responses in Rat Genital Cortex. Curr Biol 26:1-8.

 

 

Contact: Prof. Dr. Michael Brecht (1,2)
E-Mail: michael.brecht@bccn-berlin.de

(1)Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin
Philippstr. 13, Haus 6
10115 Berlin
Germany

(2)Neural Systems and Behavior
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole
MA 02543, USA