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Sex Makes Your Brain Grow

McLuhanesque writes "The Globe and Mail is reporting the findings of two researchers that "Mating triggers the development of new neurons in the smell centre of the brain, a finding researchers hope will provide clues on how to trick other parts of the vital organ to repair themselves after injuries caused by strokes or head traumas. ... Dr. Weiss and his colleagues discovered that prolactin levels -- and consequently new neuron production -- surge after mating ... And they found that if prolactin was introduced to the blood system by injection, it also stimulated production of new neurons for the olfactory bulb." For those with a subscription to Science, the abstract of the full article is here ."

68 comments

  1. Sex Makes Your Brain Grow by reyalsnogard · · Score: 4, Funny

    .. that's not all that it makes grow! O=)

  2. hmm I wonder if.. by josepha48 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    .. they include masterbation as sex? I.E. What's there defination of sex?

    --

    Only 'flamers' flame!

    1. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by Deanasc · · Score: 4, Funny
      if they include masterbation as sex

      If that were true then the world wouldn't be so full of morons.

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    2. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 2

      Morons are too stupid to masturbate.

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    3. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by Jru+Hym · · Score: 1

      Are those the same cells that control blindness?

      --
      This lobster was alive when it hit the frothy, boiling water.
    4. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by Tuxinatorium · · Score: 2

      It only creates more neurons in the olfactory bulb, and more neurons don't equate intelligence anyway (duh, look at elephants)

    5. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was just going to ask that, because if so, then I've got a flashy new retort.
      "Yeah my palms are a little hairy, but look at my grotesquely oversized brain case!"

    6. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd go back to the drawing board if I were you.

    7. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by josepha48 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I always though that jocks were dumb and had sex with the cheerleaders, but the nerds and geeks masterbated a lot more and were the smart ones.

      --

      Only 'flamers' flame!

    8. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by some+guy+I+know · · Score: 1

      Since the neurons that grow are olfactory in nature, I would speculate that it may not be the sex itself, but the smell of the partner (i.e., pheromones) that is triggering the development of new neurons.
      If this is the case, then masturbation probably would not work.
      All of these possibilities should be tested:
      1. Masturbation while the nose is plugged.
      2. Masturbation while the nose is not plugged.
      3. Sex while the nose is plugged.
      4. Sex while the nose is not plugged.
      5. Smelling the scent of sex without engaging in actual intercourse.
      I volunteer for test #3 or 4.

      --
      Those who sacrifice security to condemn liberty deserve to repeat history or something. - Benjamin Santayana
    9. Re:hmm I wonder if.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no, masturbation doesn't work because the other senses aren't stimulated as they are with a partner. Try real sex sometime and compare it.. virtually nothing in common with masturbation save only ejaculation.
      Actually, I'd say it's more like a full body massage compared with a sharp poke in the ribs.

  3. So I was smart to loose my virginity by Deanasc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come on baby... Don't you want to feel beautiful? Don't you know it'll make you smarter? Come on sugar and give it to me... Of course I love you.

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  4. Science makes ./ pockets grow? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Sounds like somebody is making a commission off of new subscriptions to "Science". What bothers me is that the frequency of blatent 'this is an advertisement' stories on this site is growing so fast...

    1. Re:Science makes ./ pockets grow? by Knacklappen · · Score: 2

      Sounds like somebody is making a commission off of new subscriptions to "Science".

      Yeah, but since I've had no occasion for brain-growing activities lately, a subscription to "Science" would be a waste of my money...

      --


      Excellence: Moderate (mostly affected by comments on your karma)
    2. Re:Science makes ./ pockets grow? by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 2

      Hmmm, perhaps instead of a subscription to Science, maybe Hustler or Screw magazine?

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  5. Brain's not the only thing growin'! NT by EggZact · · Score: 0, Redundant

    NT=No Text

    --
    "True programmers are artists and someday we'll respect programming as self expression and personal effort." - fateswarm
    1. Re:Brain's not the only thing growin'! NT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  6. Ya Right! by mhandlon · · Score: 0, Troll

    Come on the guys who got the chicks in highschool we're the ones throwing paper airplanes and spitballs @ the teachers. The guys who got the girls in college we're the frat boys buying friends and drinking themselves stupid every night doing just enough to get bye w/ an C average. Then there are the women who... given the brain designed by "the creator" were programmed to run to them with open arms. These people we're not smart... sex makes you stupider if anything... my god just look at all the trouble it gets people into there stimulated production of new neurons for the olfactory bulb we're not turned on during the dirty act or even functioning.
    The majority of these people weren't that smart to begin with!

    --
    Nyquil = Nectar of the devil
    1. Re:Ya Right! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Makes a portion of the brain "grow".

      Doesn't have anything to do with intelligence.

  7. Disclaimer: by uradu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does not work with manual override. Sorry guys!

  8. If it works in humans... by Simon+Field · · Score: 3, Interesting


    Perhaps having sex often would give you the extra olfactory neurons needed to be a wine connoisseur or a perfume tester.

    Finding out what controls the migration to the olfactory bulb would also be nice, especially if the mechanism could be hijacked to direct the neurons elsewhere. Cure Alzheimer's disease by having sex? Cram for a test by watching certain videos?

    It might be interesting to see if the brain has its own mechanisms for directing the stem cells to places that need them. Suppose damage itself is a trigger for migration? Perhaps prolactin injections alone could alleviate stroke damage by stepping up the stem cell production, with the new stem cells migrating to the damaged area.

    Maybe the reason spinal cord injuries are so hard to heal is that people paralyzed from the neck down get less sex than they used to?

    That would be an interesting grant proposal...

    1. Re:If it works in humans... by Alsee · · Score: 4, Funny
      That would be an interesting grant proposal...

      Itemized list of expenses:

      Item 14: $119.95 for 4 gross single use sterile latex health barriers.

      Item 15: $100 per subject per session for physiological stimulation experts.

      -

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      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    2. Re:If it works in humans... by 0x0d0a · · Score: 3, Funny

      That would be an interesting grant proposal...

      I'll say. "Hookers for parapalegics" simply has a ring to it that some boring Los Alamos fund mismanagement fails to excite.

  9. Hmm... by happypizzaguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    And how does this concern the average Slashdot reader?

    --
    "When all else fails, there's always delusion." -Conan O'Brien
    1. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since the average Slashdot reader rarely even encounters members of the opposite sex, this would explain the recent prevalence of "In Soviet Russia..." jokes.


    2. Re:Hmm... by VikingBerserker · · Score: 2, Redundant

      Since the typical Slashdotter rarely has sex, this would explain the recent prevalence of "In Soviet Russia..." jokes.

    3. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or perhaps explain why someone feels the same message needs to be posted twice...

    4. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You stole that AC's comment, abusing your +1 posting privledge...

      You can start feeling guilty now...

    5. Re:Hmm... by falzer · · Score: 1

      In soviet russia, sex has you.

    6. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Score: One Billion (hillarious!)

      =D =D =D =D

  10. RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter by 0x69 · · Score: 5, Funny

    READ THE ARTICLE - it says that both sex and pregnancy add nerve cells to the part of the brain that handles SMELL. NOT IQ. NOT memory.

    Maybe this explains morning sickness. Any why she starts bitching about your dirty clothes, room, etc. after a while. And why her perfume doesn't smell as cool as it used to.

    Maybe this ain't so good after all, eh?

    --
    It's easy to make up & spread cool- and credible-sounding stuff. Finding & checking hard facts is hard work.
    1. Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter by Smidge204 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well duh. If you ever talked to a porn star you'ld have all the evidence you need to prove frequent sex does not make you smarter!

      =Smidge=

    2. Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      READ THE ARTICLE - it says that both sex and pregnancy add nerve cells to the part of the brain that handles SMELL. NOT IQ. NOT memory.

      This makes sense. My wife has had what she calls "pregnancy brain" in that she has a horrible case of CRS (Can't Remember Shit), and as the nose of a bloodhound when she's pregnant (just try to sneak an occasional smoke when your wife is pregnant - won't work).

      Heck, if sex (especially masturbation) made you smarter, a majority of the users of /. would be brainiacs -- and we all know it'd be due to choking it...

    3. Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter by budalite · · Score: 4, Funny

      What? Well, That stinks!

    4. Re:RTFA - It's NOT Making You Smarter by InadequateCamel · · Score: 1

      Which indicates that there way be an emotional component to it as well. I don't really believe that rubbing one piece of flesh into another over and over could make you smart. Hell, I've had my head up my ass for YEARS and I'm no smarter!

  11. And sex feels great, too... by $$$$$exyGal · · Score: 1

    That's how evolution works. Sex feels great because it makes you procreate. And sex makes your brain grow to make you procreate. It all makes sense.

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  12. Next week's science article: by LordHunter317 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Science: Slashdot Has Effects Opposite Those of Sex

    1. Re:Next week's science article: by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 3, Funny
      Huh? I don't get it.

      --
      "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
  13. Maybe... by charlie763 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...that's why I can't smell anything.

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  14. First post? by sporty · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bah, screw first post. First *grunt*! :) Yeah, i'll burn for that.

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    -
    ping -f 255.255.255.255 # if only

  15. Too bad brain size doesn't imply intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We might have finally gotten them to make "sex education" a lab class.

  16. Does this mean? by metalhed77 · · Score: 2, Funny

    That all slashdoters have had the maximum amount of sex in a previous lifetime?

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    Photos.
    1. Re:Does this mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You're new here, right?

  17. What about... by MarvinMouse · · Score: 1

    Masturbation?

    Does that have roughly the same effect? If so, I won't feel so guilty when I'm... not studying.. yeah, that's it.

    --
    ~ kjrose
  18. Gee, and here I thought.... by CodeShark · · Score: 2, Insightful
    ...that it was something else that made my sweet lady's perfume seem better after the *cough* "olfactory neuron connecting activity".

    As opposed to something truly satisfying -- like the gentle smile on her face, the close physical space (snuggling), the tenderness in the touching -- and of course the huge release of endorphins we experience together. Plus the knowledge that at if we try at certain tims we might even add an interesting addition to our small family -- you know -- participating in the creation of a new life.

    *sigh* Where's the study that shows how much more these important things make new neuronal connections grow...

    --
    ...Open Source isn't the only answer -- but it's almost always a better value than the alternatives...
    1. Re:Gee, and here I thought.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man, you must not be married. :)

  19. No wonder folks tell me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...I have a "swelled head." (Or maybe they're saying I have a "swell head"?) Aw stop it, you're making me blush.

  20. Wow that's a lot of jokes in one story... by kasparov · · Score: 2
    Mating triggers the development of new neurons in the smell centre of the brain...

    Wow, that explains so much...

    ...provide clues on how to trick other parts of the vital organ to repair themselves after injuries caused by strokes or head traumas.

    Yeah, those head traumas from strokes to your vital organ can be painful.

    --
    There's no place I can be, since I found Serenity.
  21. Enhanced Sense of Smell in Pregnancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We knew right away when my wife got pregnant this time. Before she had even missed her first period her sense smell had gone into overdrive. Last time she couldn't even go into the meat department in the grocery store. Yesterday she was sniffing our 18mth old daughter and telling me how good she smelled. Fortunately I haven't had to take over all the diaper changing of our toddler yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if that is coming soon.

    I think it is a self-preservation thing in that helps prevent her from eating spoiled meat or moldy fruit - she can smell these from across the room.

    However as to making you smarter, any gain in brain capacity during pregnancy more than lost in memory function after childbirth. Most new mothers blame this on lack of sleep, but I think there is likely a hormonal aspect to it as well.

  22. Quote at the bottom of the page by joelt49 · · Score: 1

    At the bottom of the page: "A lot of people I know believe in positive thinking, and so do I. I believe everything positively stinks. -- Lew Col" Apparently he had too much sex :) Really, though, this precludes the possibility of making a smell-o-vision version of /. readers -- no one would have the olfactory neurons to process it.

  23. The missing link by crapulent · · Score: 1

    Mating triggers the development of new neurons in the smell centre of the brain

    My god, this is genius! Finally, the missing link in the mystery of why lonely, sexless geeks often go for days or weeks without showering. Of course! They can't smell their own manfunk. It's all coming together....

  24. A stab in the dark.. by sabNetwork · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This probably has to do with human pheromones, which are detected through a part of the olfactory system. Pheromones are utilized during both sex and the search for a mate.

  25. For those with a subscription to 'Science' by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 2

    and those with subscriptions to a mag called 'science' are NOT the ones who benefit from actually having sex.

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    --
    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  26. somebody hasn't gotten any in a while... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    retlif

  27. FUCKTARD ALERT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    faggots stealing ACs posts

  28. I knew it! by tgrigsby · · Score: 2, Funny

    Einstein was a sex GOD!

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    *** *** You're just jealous 'cause the voices talk to me... ***
    1. Re:I knew it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      who says he just didn't masturbate a lot? he spent a LOT of time by himself remember. he's a male. geez. put two and two together.

  29. Ehm... by LadyLucky · · Score: 2
    a finding researchers hope will provide clues on how to trick other parts of the vital organ to repair themselves after injuries caused by strokes or head traumas

    Definitely a cure best performed in the privacy of your own home.

    --
    dominionrd.blogspot.com - Restaurants on
    1. Re:Ehm... by TiggerStripe · · Score: 0

      eh? I think not! Feverish love in the middle of traffic is far the merrier, my dear :)

      (only so long as my family ain't driving by! yuck)

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      --you have been trolled--
  30. LOSE NOT LOOSE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow.

  31. Tiny-brained /.'ers blush, look at feet ... by JoeGee · · Score: 1

    ... once again privately resolve to make this year, The Year.

    --

    Get off my virtual lawn, you damned virtual kids!
  32. Redundant? by EggZact · · Score: 0

    Perhaps you have failed to read the post I based mine on correctly, let me paste it here:

    Sex Makes Your Brain Grow
    by reyalsnogard (595701) .. that's not all that it makes grow! O=)

    His post refers to things that make the brain grow.
    i.e. Reading books, Ginseng, LSD...
    Mine refers to things that sex make grow...

    --
    "True programmers are artists and someday we'll respect programming as self expression and personal effort." - fateswarm
  33. Sex makes you smarter??? by krypt0n0mic0n · · Score: 1

    ...well fuck me........

    --
    http://page33.port5.com -- Spread the paranoia.
  34. Just image what they would be like w/o sex by lukme · · Score: 2, Funny

    How smart were they before they had sex? I think this topic needs further investigation. May I be a research subject?

  35. This is NOT true! by rye+bean · · Score: 0

    I have found indisputable evidence that this (gaining intelligence by doing the in-out-in-out) is not true - just look at these statistics about brain partitions:

    1) P0rnstars have 1% thinking and 99% "social interaction"

    2) /.ers have 99% thinking and 1% "social interaction"

    So there you have it, This is most definitly NOT true :)

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    I prefer MS Windows to Linux
  36. I Am Living Proof by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 1

    Ages 15-22: Years spent being a dog and gettling lots of nookie from numerous ladies.

    Ages 23 and beyond: Years spent religiously reading Slashdot.

    No study...

    --
    Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
  37. Hmm by hplasm · · Score: 1
    "Mating triggers the development of new neurons in the smell centre of the brain"

    That explains the funny smell afterwards, then.

    --
    ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.