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Sex Boosts Brain Growth

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the do-it-for-my-brain-baby dept.

climenole writes "Sex apparently can help the brain grow, according to new findings in rats. Sexually active rodents also seemed less anxious than virgins, Princeton scientists discovered. Past findings had shown that stressful, unpleasant events could stifle brain cell growth in adults. To see if pleasant albeit stressful experiences could have the opposite effect, researchers studied the effects of sex in rats."

29 of 251 comments (clear)

  1. Bullshit by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If that were the case /. would be full of retards and the NBA would be full of geniuses.

    I'll believe it when Jon Bon Jovi announces that he's found the Higgs Boson.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Bullshit by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 3, Funny

      it's not bullshit.

      Look at how much arguing there is on slashdot, we are all quite stressed...

      Says you !

    2. Re:Bullshit by bsDaemon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Just because they chose to focus on physical mastery over themselves, then managed to get a sweet gig making millions of dollars doing something fun doesn't make them "morons." Hell, if I could make a mint playing games all day, why would I bother looking for the Higgs Boson?

      Besides, consider the following: The major goal in any living being's life is to ensure the survival of his genes. Those who get the most action have the best chance of doing so, which means on a sub-conscious, primal level they're going to have less to worry about. That means they won't be distracted from focusing on what's important to them.

      If more nerds got some, maybe we'd have the Higgs Boson on lock already.

    3. Re:Bullshit by MessedRocker · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why limit sex strictly to intercourse? Surely there are Slashdotters out there who masturbate frequently.

    4. Re:Bullshit by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Hmm...does the sex have to be with someone else in order to be effective?

      If not, that might explain the /. crowd....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    5. Re:Bullshit by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny

      He found it, he just didn't give a rats ass.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    6. Re:Bullshit by tverbeek · · Score: 4, Funny

      "If that were the case /. would be full of retards...."

      Have you been reading the comments here?

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    7. Re:Bullshit by couchslug · · Score: 3, Funny

      Like a spider monkey on meth, but if that works then I should have passed genius level around 1974.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    8. Re:Bullshit by Asgerix · · Score: 3, Funny

      Just remember, every time you masturbate, god kills a kitten.

      I just realized something: No pussy => masturbate => kitten dies => no pussy. It's an evil circle!

      --
      Life is wet, then you dry.
    9. Re:Bullshit by shadowofwind · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The major goal in any living being's life is to ensure the survival of his genes.

      Nothing personal, but no.

      It is true that natural selection requires you to compete successfully in order to continue to exist, and that includes reproduction. But, natural selection is not the only principle governing nature, it is merely a very important one. A lot of behavior is effectively orthogonal to survival: you can do something, or not it, and your survival chances are the same. Furthermore, life is not entirely a zero sum game. Certain things, like cultivation of intelligence increase your chances of survival to the point where you have freedom for a lot more besides that. You can say that its instinct for propagation of genes that compels us to learn. And there's truth in that. But satisfying the instinct is just one condition that has to be met. Its not everything.

      You're free to pick any 'major goal' in life that you find compelling. Of course, if your goal isn't conducive to the survival of your bloodline, then nature will kill you off. But that doesn't mean its impossible to make that choice.

      If more nerds got some, maybe we'd have the Higgs Boson on lock already.

      Historically, how common is it for scientists to get serious work done when they're in love or chasing hot women? The degree of concentration and dedication required for groundbreaking work would seem to me to usually preclude that. Sure, lots of famous scientists fooled around or had lots of kids. But I have a hard time believing very many of them were doing their best work in those periods, or that it occupied a very high part of their attention.

    10. Re:Bullshit by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, no. It used to be that I didn't read the articles. From there I progressed to not reading the summary ... not reading the comments was just the next logical step.

    11. Re:Bullshit by camperslo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There may be other aspects of sex affecting the brain also.

      Some believe that hormones transmitting during some sex relieve depression.

    12. Re:Bullshit by xero314 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      According to Neal Stephenson in Cryptonomicon, masturbation is effective, but does not last as long, so you have to do it far more regularly. I would have to reread it to see if he says if it's as effective as the real thing though.

      Now from personal experience, something most slashdotters don't have, I would say the real thing is both more effective and has a longer duration.

  2. Now I understand... by Toksyuryel · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...why most mainstream religions demonize sex. It all makes sense now.

    1. Re:Now I understand... by Tom · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Aside from the funny part, that is closer to the truth than you like.

      Most of our current mainstream religions, i.e. the monotheistic, abrahamic ones, basically need you to feel horrible because their story says the world is bad and the afterlife can be good if (and only if) you follow their teachings.

      It's hard to feel like shit after a good night with a lover. Your desire for spiritual salvation is quite a bit low after a hot threesome. Your belief that this world is all bad and evil and only the afterlife counts is kind of weak in the middle of getting your brains fucked out.

      Look at the pope and try to take him seriously.
      Now fuck for an hour and then look at the pope and try to take him seriously.
      You'll notice a considerable difference.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  3. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  4. Re:Sign me up by flogger · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do not worry. The control group will not be fucking.

    --
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    "First things first -- but not necessarily in that order"
    -- The Doctor, "Doctor
  5. Sex with hot female rats... by GPLDAN · · Score: 4, Funny

    Studies showed that male rats with Italian sports cars and gold chains, were 40% more likely to score with the most desirable female rats. This effect, deemed the "Mook Effect", was present in all test cases.

    Those rats that had contributed to the Linux kernel fared the worst.

  6. Re:Hmm... by daremonai · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, we know. You were "busy."

  7. Forwarding this important study by Tweezer · · Score: 4, Funny

    To my wife immediately. She complains that her memory could be better.

    1. Re:Forwarding this important study by macbeth66 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I tried that already.

      Her memory is still good enough to remember that gorgeous blonde I checked out yesterday...

    2. Re:Forwarding this important study by TheLink · · Score: 3, Funny

      Maybe she forgot who was her husband.

      --
  8. Re:Yea but by Zocalo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Self service" obviously doesn't count. If it did then dogs, and not man, would be running the world...

    --
    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
  9. Brains by weicco · · Score: 3, Funny

    Poor small-brained me :(

    --
    You don't know what you don't know.
  10. reminds of that classic seinfeld episode by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Funny

    elaine stops having sex with her boyfriend to motivate him to pass an exam (another commentary on sex and smarts) and george stops having sex because his girlfriend has mononucleosis. george gets progressively smarter (until he spontaneously learns portuguese and therefore seduces a portuguese woman, thus becoming a stupid again), and elaine gets progressively dumber. some humor from jerry's summary of what's going on in their heads:

    to george:

    George: What is Tungsten or Wolfram?

    Alex Trebek: We were looking for 'What is Tungsten, or Wolfram'.

    Jerry: Is this a repeat?

    George: No, no, no. Just lately, I've been thinking a lot clearer. Like this afternoon, (To television) what is chicken Kiev, (Back to Jerry) I really enjoyed watching a documentary with Louise.

    Jerry: Louise! That's what's doin' it. You're no longer pre-occupied with sex, so your mind is able to focus.

    George: You think?

    Jerry: Yeah. I mean, let's say this is your brain. (Holds lettuce head) Okay, from what I know about you, your brain consists of two parts: the intellect, represented here (Pulls off tiny piece of lettuce), and the part obsessed with sex. (Shows large piece) Now granted, you have extracted an astonishing amount from this little scrap. But with no-sex-Louise, this previously useless lump, is now functioning for the first time in its existence. (Eats tiny piece of lettuce)

    George: Oh my God. I just remembered where I left my retainer in second grade. I'll see ya. (He throws finished Rubik's cube to Jerry and he exits. Kramer enters)

    to elaine:

    Elaine: How come he's gettin' so smart? I stopped having sex with Ben three days ago and I don't know no Portuguese?

    Jerry: Are you all right?

    Elaine: I don't know. It's just the last coupla days my mind has been, not good.

    Jerry: Wait a second, I know what's happening. The no sex thing is having a reverse effect on you.

    Elaine: What? What are you talking about?

    Jerry: To a woman, sex is like the garbage man. You just take for granted the fact that any time you put some trash out on the street, a guy in a jumpsuit's gonna come along and pick it up. But now, it's like a garbage strike. The bags are piling up in your head. The sidewalk is blocked. Nothing's getting through. You're stupid.

    Elaine: I don't understand.

    Jerry: Exactly.

    http://www.operaforthemasses.com/2010/06/seinfeld-review-7-abstinence.html

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  11. Suddenly I'm a lot more impressed with Marvin by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they ask me to take you to the bridge. Call that job satisfaction, 'cause I don't."

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  12. New headline for spam by fabioalcor · · Score: 5, Funny

    En-large your bra1n!

  13. Re:Sex Boosts Brain Growth... in rats. by jd · · Score: 3, Funny

    So we should prevent lawyers breeding at all costs?

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  14. Re:Yea but by cstacy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Self service" obviously doesn't count. If it did then dogs, and not man, would be running the world...

    You mean the dogs who we take into our warm houses, give them a nice place to sleep, feed them, wash them, walk around after them and pick up their poop for them, and tell them "Go lay down now! Good dog!" I for one welcome our pampered canine overlords...