moshita:

Magnetic resonance imaging of male and female genitals during coitus and female sexual arousal

Repro

neurolove:

How can things taste or feel “cold” or “hot”? FLASHBACK

This sensation is called chemosthesis and refers to the fact that chemicals that you can taste or apply to your skin can cause “touch” feelings (temperature is part of the “touch” sense whereas chemical sensing is either “taste” or “smell” typically).  This would be with icy hot where it feels cold or hot, but your skin temperature does not actually change or when you eat mints and they “taste cold” or when you eat some spicy food and it “tastes hot”.

These cold or hot feelings or tastes are not actually related to temperature.  Two chemicals in particular can activate the TRP channels we talked about previously.  Menthol (found in mint and icy hot) activates TRPM8 channels that typically sense cold temperatures, while capsaicin (found in chili peppers and other “spicy” foods) activates TRPV1 channels that typically respond to heat.  These chemicals attach to the TRP channel and cause it to open the same way temperature would, causing the same responses in the neurons- in your mouth and on your skin.  This is why the foods or other chemicals containing these compounds really do taste or feel “hot” or “cold”.  It is the same neural response.

Coincidentally, this is why drinking water after having some spicy foods will not help- the water will just move the chemicals around and cause them to activate even more TRP channels, making the feeling stronger.  Most concentrated fluids, like milk, can help wash away and displace the chemicals, so the TRP channels will stop being activated.

[Image Source]

holymoleculesbatman:

The chemicals involved in the feeling of “love”

• Phenylethylamine or PEA - This is an amine that naturally occurs in the brain and also in some foods, such as chocolate. It is a stimulant, much like an amphetamine, that causes the release of norepinephrine and dopamine. This chemical is found when you are falling in love. It’s responsible for the head-over-heels, elated part of love.
• Norepinephrine - When PEA causes this chemical to be released, you feel the effects in the form of sweaty palms and a pounding heart.
• Dopamine - Dopamine is a neurochemical that appears to be associated with mate selection. An Emory University study found that voles (a type of rodent) chose their mate based on dopamine release. When female voles were injected with dopamine in the presence of a male vole, they could select him from a group of voles later.
• Oxytocin - Dopamine triggers the release of oxytocin, which is sometimes called the ‘cuddle hormone’. In both genders, oxytocin is released during touching. In women, oxytocin is released during labor and breast feeding.
• Testosterone - Though you might think of testosterone as a male hormone, both men and women produce it. Raw lust is accompanied by a surge in testosterone levels.
• Endorphins - Your brain acquires a tolerance to the love stimulants and starts to release endorphins. The honeymoon is over, chemically, around 18 months to 4 years into a relationship. However, this isn’t all bad. Endorphins are associated with feelings of attachment and comfort. Endorphins are like opiates. They calm anxiety, relieve pain and reduce stress.

aleua:

simonbobx:

boogiethekingofdonuts:

minawakitten:

i like

yes

YEAH BUT LIKE

EVERYONE CAN SEE YOUR JUNK

…how many people are in the room with you when you have a bath

Lol omg

blackutree:

this chicken strip is shaped like africa?

coincidence?

i think not

infinity-imagined:

MRI scans of a Human brain.