Now that we’re on the same page, there’s a reason music and sex go so well together, and it actually has a lot to do with science. Neuropsychologist Dr. Rhonda Freeman says that music is likely to affect three regions of the brain — the reward or pleasure system, the social affiliation or bonding system, and the limbic system (which processes emotions).
The experiment didn’t wind up working out, but he’s not the only person who enjoys listening to music during sex. He certainly isn’t the only person with a sex playlist, either. I mean, Khloé Kardashian’s sex playlist features John Mayer, and Ivanka Trump’s allegedly includes John Legend. There are no rules here, so don’t judge me for having Bruno Mars on mine.
When triggered, the reward system, for example, involves dopamine and endogenous opioids. Dr. Freeman explains, “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked with desire, wanting, craving, motivation, or anticipation of someone or something — in this instance, of our intimate partner. And endogenous opioids are the hedonic response, which includes pleasure and enjoyment.”
“Those systems not only allow the pleasurable experience of sex to be amplified with music, but they also allow music to deepen your connection with your partner while subduing negative emotions,” she explains, and that has a lot to do with oxytocin.
Here’s how else music affects your brain when you’re being intimate with your partner.
According to a study done by Sonos, the smart speaker system, 67 percent of couples that listen to music out loud together report having more sex than couples who don’t listen to music together. The reason is that when you listen to music out loud, your neurons (nerve cells that transmit information throughout the body) begin operating at the same rate as your partner’s, which releases oxytocin (the love hormone). Oxytocin is also responsible for feelings of trust so, naturally, things become more intimate between you and your partner when there’s music on in the bedroom.
SOURCE: Lyons, B. (2018) Listening To Music During Sex Has These 3 Effects On Your Body & Brain
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