Auditory/Brain "Orgasm" ?

[Lianad]

I know this sounds strange, but it's actually a serious question. I'll try to explain as best as I can.

Ever since I can remember, well, at least for the past 25 years or so I will completely randomly get what I have termed a "brain orgasm". This has absolutely nothing to do with genitalia, the "orgasm" is just the best word I can use to describe the feeling.

Here is what happens in a nutshell. While listening to certain sounds, which in the past have always consisted of a person's voice, or most recently sounds my cat makes while grooming, I'll start to get this weird tingly feeling in my brain, eventually, if I focus long enough on the specific sound, I get the most euphoric and satisfying feeling in my brain.

For years I've tried to pinpoint what exactly is causing it, but it appears so random that I can't put my finger on it. I'm wondering if anyone else can relate to my I'm describing, or possible, if there is actually a diagnosis for this euphoric state I could read up on?

Couple of answers before you ask:

• No I do not do drugs and have never been on drugs during the experiences
• The voice that might cause it, can be a voice I've heard hundreds of times before and had no reaction to. (i.e. in school a teachers voice would one day trigger it, at work a coworker one day might trigger it etc)
• From memory, I believe when it comes to voices, more male than female voices have brought it on
• Most times it happens, I never reach "climax" (ha ha) as the sound will stop prematurely. I can remember many a times where I was consciously thinking "please don't stop talking!" when the feeling came on
• The cat sound referenced above is the sound one of my cat makes while grooming itself/biting it's nails. Obviously a completely different sound than a human voice.

Overall I'm wondering if it is 100% completely random, or if there IS some pattern to it, tone, pitch etc. It obviously is based on auditory stimulation, but there simply does not seem to be any stand-out pattern between cases.

This is obviously something I'd like to "master" and understand more, so I'm open to any thoughts or suggestions you might have.

 

[Bikewer]

Sounds like a visit to a neurologist might be in order. Science Friday just interviewed Oliver Sachs, the author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat.

He's a neurologist who has written extensively on the strange problems that people in the medical field are familiar with, but almost no one else is.
A fairly common one is a sort of "cross wiring" that results in being able to "smell" sounds or "see" music.

Sounds like this might be a related situation.

 

[Dancing David]

If it doesn't cause any problems like when you are driving or something i wouldn't worry. Do you get headaches afterwards?

 

[KingMerv00]

Are you sure it is associated with sound? It never happens in silence?

 

[Lianad]

A fairly common one is a sort of "cross wiring" that results in being able to "smell" sounds or "see" music.

Bikewer I just googled Oliver Sachs and will definitely look into some of his publications. It definitely does seem interesting, I take it you're saying maybe in some sense my brain is "feeling" the sounds?

David, they are so random and rare, I'd say honestly, maybe 1 every other month now adays, so they really don't affect me or distract me in my daily life. When I was a kid they were much more frequent. I honestly can't remember if I get headaches afterwards but I don't believe I do. I do know lately I've had some really bad migraines off and on and I did have my latest episode in question during this time.

 

[Lianad]

Are you sure it is associated with sound? It never happens in silence?

I'm 99% sure it has never happened in silence before. Although there might be one case somewhere that was (hence the 99%).

 

[rebecca]

Definitely go see a neurologist. I doubt someone on an Internet forum will be able to give you a satisfactory answer.

 

[Lianad]

Definitely go see a neurologist. I doubt someone on an Internet forum will be able to give you a satisfactory answer.

Thanks for the comment Rebecca.

I guess I just never considered it a big deal, but always one of those weird "things" that happened. After finding this forum I figured this would be a good place to at least ask about it as there are many well educated people here. I was hoping maybe there was a simple explanation, or someone had heard of it before.

I really don't think I'm going to go to a neurologist over it as it isn't a problem, just something I wanted to understand better.

 

[Normal Dude]

Lianad,

Well, the problem is that your chakras are slightly out of order. You need a chiropractor to put them back in alignment and give you a brain enema to wash out the toxins - oh, wait wrong forum

 

[Lianad]

Well, the problem is that your chakras are slightly out of order. You need a chiropractor to put them back in alignment and give you a brain enema to wash out the toxins - oh, wait wrong forum

LOL thanks for the chuckle. Are you sure I shouldn't be looking into some homeopathic medicine though?

 

[Normal Dude]

LOL thanks for the chuckle. Are you sure I shouldn't be looking into some homeopathic medicine though?

Your chiro would prescribe this afterwards for management.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Here is what happens in a nutshell. While listening to certain sounds, which in the past have always consisted of a person's voice, or most recently sounds my cat makes while grooming, I'll start to get this weird tingly feeling in my brain, eventually, if I focus long enough on the specific sound, I get the most euphoric and satisfying feeling in my brain.

Under similar circumstances I get a strong tingling in the back of my head and down my spine. It usually happens with music with which I have a strong emotional attachment. It does not happen with simple sounds. It has happened ever since I can remember.

As others have said, I think you should see a neurologist, just in case it is an indication of epilepsy or something like that.

~~ Paul

 

[BenK]

I think I've experienced something similar though only with music. The best example so far has been from Of Montreal, Cato as a Pun starting at second 18. The effect is better with earbuds but the sample above works fairly well in the car if I let myself focus on it, it has to be pretty loud as well. There isn't much tingeling, 'brain orgasm' is a pretty accurate term.

 

[petra10]

I get feelings something like yours when I eat chocolate only not as intense as you do. Chocolate really does make me feel a bit happier and I read recently that it does affects parts of your brain.Only some people can be affected by this.
I eat chocalate every day, my favourite is dark chocolate with at least 70% co-coa.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

I eat chocalate every day, my favourite is dark chocolate with at least 70% co-coa.

The chocolate company headquartered in my town now makes a chocolate with 97.5% cocoa. Surely we can use this to produce multiple orgasms.

~~ Paul

 

[Lianad]

As others have said, I think you should see a neurologist, just in case it is an indication of epilepsy or something like that.

Interesting, please educate me in this as I'm completely uninformed. What part of what I mention could be related to epilepsy or a sign of some "trouble"? I thought people had mentioned that advice simple because they thought it bothered me, which it doesn't, but now I'm starting to think you're all saying my symptoms could be the sign of something wrong?

 

[Dr. Imago]

What they are saying is this could be evidence of a simple partial seizure. Some patients have "auras" before they seize. In some very mild and minimal forms of epilepsy, all that happens is the aura itself. Some people smell bananas, some people hear a funny noise or feel a strange sensation. And, that's it. RARELY, this can be a harbinger of later worsening seizures.

Me? I'm more like Paul. Occassionally, I can here an incredible piece of music that gives me a warm, euphoric feeling. For a while (sometime ago), it was the "Daybreak" score in Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe." Once I listen to the piece enough, I lose the ability to feel that sensation. Most recently, it was the song "Jacksonville" by Sufjan Stevens.

If you only feel euphoria, consider yourself lucky. If you're actually worried, try to figure out what triggers it, see a Neurologist, and get an EEG.

-Dr. Imago

 

[rebecca]

Thanks for the comment Rebecca.

I guess I just never considered it a big deal, but always one of those weird "things" that happened. After finding this forum I figured this would be a good place to at least ask about it as there are many well educated people here. I was hoping maybe there was a simple explanation, or someone had heard of it before.

I really don't think I'm going to go to a neurologist over it as it isn't a problem, just something I wanted to understand better.

Lianad, I sent your OP past Steve Novella (a neurologist), who said:

Almost certainly a seizure. Some seizures can be triggered by specific tones or sounds, and seizures that involve the "pleasure center' can be exactly as she describes. She should see a neurologist to rule out an underlying problem.

So, I'll just restate my 1st response and say (whether for your health or curiosity), please see a specialist on this.

 

[Mercutio]

A) please see a specialist, just in case. It is very cool, but not normal, and if it is a seizure, you really want to know.

B) with Sacks's new book (specifically about music, but more generally about sound), I think he would probably be interested in your story himself.

 

[Dr. Imago]

A) please see a specialist, just in case. It is very cool, but not normal, and if it is a seizure, you really want to know.

B) with Sacks's new book (specifically about music, but more generally about sound), I think he would probably be interested in your story himself.

Okay, I'm not disagreeing with you guys. But, what if she sees a specialist and he highly recommends putting her on medication? Hypothetical, but possible. Then what should she do? Just get a second opinion? How about talking about it with her primary care provider first? Let him/her get a good history and help decide what to do next.

Also, find your trigger, Lianad. If you can pinpoint your trigger, then you'll get somewhere. If not, seeing a specialist probably may not be very fruitful, unless you have a specific EEG findings demonstrative of an underlying disorder. And, depending on your insurance coverage, this may be a very costly endeavor. I'm not trying to dissaude you from trying to figure this thing out, but you might want to start simple - especially since you haven't had any really serious symptoms over the past 25 years.

Just my $0.02. Actually, you're not paying anything for it and I'm not responsible for anything you decide to do (just so we're clear... see disclaimer below).

-Dr. Imago

P.S. Remember, I know how the "system" works.