(no subject)

[dreamer_easy]

The cover story of the latest edition of the Journal of Consciousness Studies is the eye-catching "Phantom Penises in Transsexuals: Evidence of an Innate Gender-Specific Body Image in the Brain" (abstract here). Now, the phenomenon of "phantom limbs" in amputees is well-known; 60% of men who have had their penises removed experience this, but only 30% of male-to-female transsexuals experience it after their operation. Which is interesting enough, but 60% of female-to-male transsexuals also report experiencing a vivid "phantom penis", including phantom erections - in may cases, since childhood. This leads the researchers to speculate there's a "hard-wired" image of the body, including its physical sex, in the brain. Extremely interesting stuff.

ETA much later: a 2010 followup disputes their calculations.

Comments

Warning! TMI may be ahead.

[c4bl3fl4m3.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating stuff.

I'm biologically female and bisexual, but am genderfluid, and feel pretty male quite a bit of the time, especially when it comes to being attracted to women. The "phantom erections" thing only makes sense to me, as there's often times a sensation I get of popping a stiff one when I'm aroused by a woman or by femininity. I call it "having a girlie boner" for someone or something.

Re: Warning! TMI may be ahead.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Fascinating! What I think of as a "girlie hardon" is not the sensation of having the male member, but just the feeling of blood racing to one's area. But you're describing the sensation that Mr John Thomas is actually in your pants - is that right?

Re: Warning! TMI may be ahead.

[c4bl3fl4m3.livejournal.com]

It's sometimes like you've described as a "girlie hardon" but sometimes like having a John Thomas. Sometimes I feel I should look down and have a tent in my trousers.