Sex feels good - that’s a no-brainer. But when it comes to real brain chemistry, there’s even more reason to feel good about feeling good, because sex has very real, very positive effects on the brain.
Here are some little-known brain benefits of mind-blowing sex.
Self confidence
We’ve all experienced that hop in our step after morning sex, whistling on our way to work while buying this month's edition of The Big Issue and buying coffees for the office.
Regardless of how confident you are, this is nature giving you a feel-good self-esteem boost. On the other hand, not getting enough sex can cause angst, self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy.
Stress relief
Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but like any problem - the sooner it is dealt with, the better. During sex, your brain releases oxytocin, a mediator of well-being, social interaction, growth and healing.
Thenonapeptide kicks in after just 20 seconds of kissing, leaving an hour-long romp equating to one wild neoapeptide party.
Critical thinking
Thinking about sex can be rather distracting at times, right?
Well according to Dutch researcher and psychologist, Jens Förster, the opposite is true. In a 2009 study conducted in Amsterdam, Förster discovered that individuals who were thinking about sex were better at critical thinking than those who weren’t.
Memory
According to a study performed by Princeton’s Psychology Department, rats, which have a similar mammalian physiology to us humans, have a higher capacity for memory the more they have sex.
The experiment’s data showed that an increase in sex promoted cellular growth in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that controls memory.
Pain relief
Our brains house what scientists have matter-of-factly dubbed the pleasure center, which is linked to the reward circuitry that encourages us to do things that feel good.
When the reward circuit is triggered, the brain releases beta-endorphins, which decreases pain and vasopressin, increasing the feeling of human bonding - leaving us able to think more clearly.
All this sex and health talk and we didn’t once mention the big “O!” To further stimulate your brain (and maybe a little more), continue your naughty quest for knowledge by discovering the health benefits of orgasm and separating common orgasm myths from fact.
* Visit Jenni Holdsworth's website for more info