00:00 The podcast episode discusses the topic of what happens in the brain during an orgasm.

04:18 Orgasms begin in the genitalia and end in the brain, with a lot of nerves involved and the clitoris having about 8,000 nerve endings.

08:43 During intercourse and at climax, messages are sent through large nerves that run up the spinal cord and to the brain, including the vagus nerve, which bypasses the spinal cord and transmits from the cervix, uterus, and vagina, and controls more than just orgasms, such as swallowing.

13:08 Stimulation of the vagus nerve during orgasm can be detected in the brain through MRI scans, providing evidence that the vagus nerve plays a significant role in sexual pleasure and orgasm.

17:34 The reward center in the brain releases dopamine during orgasm, which creates a pleasurable sensation and reinforces the desire to experience it again.

21:40 Dutch researchers found that there aren't many differences in the brains between men and women during orgasm, with the pleasure circuit looking 95% the same as a snapshot of the peak of a heroin dose, but there are differences in brain regions between men and women, such as the orbital frontal cortex shutting down for both, and women's brains showing decreased activity in the medulla and hippocampus, which makes sense given the need for trust and relaxation for women to enjoy sex, and the insular cortex, associated with pain, being activated during orgasm.

26:06 Dr. Oh is studying orgasms not just to understand the brain, but also to help people with persistent sexual arousal syndrome, and he has found that meditation techniques can decrease sexual arousal in those with the condition.

30:22 Orgasms can be experienced without physical touch and can even be felt in phantom limbs due to the brain's ability to rewire itself after amputation.

34:50 The female orgasm may be an evolutionary remnant that is no longer necessary for survival.

39:11 The podcast episode ends with the hosts thanking the listener for their question and providing contact information for the podcast.