Neural correlates of sexual arousal in trans persons on cross-sex hormone therapy

Little is known whether differences exist in how trans persons perceive and process sexually arousing material differently at the neurobiological level from cisgender persons. [ view full abstract ]

Little is known whether differences exist in how trans persons perceive and process sexually arousing material differently at the neurobiological level from cisgender persons.

To assess neurobiological processing of erotic material in trans persons on cross-sex hormone therapy. [ view full abstract ]

To assess neurobiological processing of erotic material in trans persons on cross-sex hormone therapy.

Twenty trans men, 19 trans women, 20 cisgender men and 20 cisgender women watched 8 erotic and 8 neutral video clips (each clip being 45 seconds long) whilst undergoing fMRI scanning at 3T. [ view full abstract ]

Twenty trans men, 19 trans women, 20 cisgender men and 20 cisgender women watched 8 erotic and 8 neutral video clips (each clip being 45 seconds long) whilst undergoing fMRI scanning at 3T.

Neural activation in the contrast for erotic relative to neutral video clips. [ view full abstract ]

Neural activation in the contrast for erotic relative to neutral video clips.

The results showed that two regions, the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions known to be involved in affective processing and regulation and in self-referential processing, were differentially activated... [ view full abstract ]

The results showed that two regions, the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions known to be involved in affective processing and regulation and in self-referential processing, were differentially activated between the groups. Specifically, cisgender men revealed larger neural activity during the erotic arousal condition than trans men, trans women, or cisgender women in the insula and the ACC. Similarly, trans men tended to differ from cisgender men while trans women tended to differ from cisgender women.

The findings suggest little differences between trans persons and cisgender persons but indicate generally larger activations in cisgender men during erotic arousal. [ view full abstract ]

The findings suggest little differences between trans persons and cisgender persons but indicate generally larger activations in cisgender men during erotic arousal.