Apparently, more sex affects the development of your brain, according to new study

Who would've thunk it? New research on sex and brain development in women seems to suggest a little sexy time has even more benefits than we thought

Flowers shaped like a brain on a green background
(Image credit: Hiroshi Watanabe/Getty Images)
Danielle Valente
By Danielle Valente
published

The link between sex and brain development is more complex than we even thought 

We incorrectly assumed we'd heard it all before: how sex affects your physical and mental health, how to exercise your way to orgasm, etc. Now, a new study is taking the biology lesson one step further. 

According to research in the Journal of Neuroscience, the act of sex can actually be responsible for a more fully developed brain, specifically the somatosensory cortex. This part of the organ is linked to genital touch in women, and it's thicker in females who have had sex more frequently. Who knew?!

That begs the question: will sex make the brain bigger? Can we exercise our way to a larger somatosensory cortex between the sheets? It's inconclusive, but considering a little steaminess leads to improved memory with age, per the Archives of Sexual Behavior, this doesn't seem out of the realm of possibilities. 

We're not medical professionals, but sex can ease period pain (check these sexual positions for menstrual cramps) and frisky activities lead to a mood boost and stress relief (especially when morning sex comes into play), so it appears a little steamy play goes a long way.

couple holding hands in bed

(Image credit: Getty Images / Meng Yiren)

You'd assume that these benefits would make people more inclined to fool around in the bedroom, but a study released several weeks after the Journal of Neuroscience's findings indicate that sex frequency is decreasing in people of all ages—even before the pandemic began. Now in 2022, people are beginning to incorporate orgasms and sex into their wellness routines, particularly solo sex. 

"Female masturbation is becoming far more openly talked about and is becoming widely recognized as a type of self-care," says Nina Julia, a wellness expert at CFAH. "A great place to start is spending some time getting to know yourself and exploring what feels good to you."

If the road to a healthy lifestyle—and organs like the brain—includes some pleasure along the way, why not?

Danielle Valente
Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again. 

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