Brain Imaging and Sexual Attraction

DESCRIPTION:

Do women's brains respond differently to men at different times of the menstrual cycle? This study tests brain activation (using fMRI) of women (ages 23-28) at 2 phases of their menstrual cycle, while viewing pictures of men (faces, only).

CURRENT PROJECT:

We are currently testing women using hormonal contraceptives and using eye-tracking methods to measure changes in attention across the cycle that may contribute to the observed differences in brain activation

FINDINGS:

Preliminary results suggest that women show more brain activation in areas related to reward processing during their follicular versus luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

INVESTIGATORS:

Drs. Heather Rupp and Julia Heiman of The Kinsey Institute, Thomas James and Dale Sengelaub (Psychology, Indiana University), and Ellen Ketterson (Biology, Indiana University).

FUNDING:

National Institutes of Health - Child Health and Human Development Training Grant

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