A new study has analysed the effects of light touch, pressure and vibration on the female body to find out exactly where the most sensitive areas are.
Researchers found that for light touch, the neck was most sensitive, for pressure the clitoris and nipple were most sensitive, and for vibration the clitoris was the most sensitive part of the body.
The results give an unprecedented glimpse into exactly how women become aroused.
The team say their work could have implications for those undergoing breast augmentation and gender reassignment surgery.
The Canadian team at the Université du Québec à Montréal analysed thirty healthy women aged between 18 and 35 years old.
They were were assessed on the perineum (clitoris, labia minora, vaginal, and anal margin), breast (lateral, areola, nipple), and control body locations (neck, forearm, abdomen).
Researchers did not look at other areas such as sucking toes.
How did they do it:
The team asked the women to get undressed and lie on a table covered in a bed sheet.
Participants were asked to wear goggles to blindfold them during testing.
They then used scientific instruments to apply the various forms of touch.
The researchers applied stimulation for 1.5 seconds, then waited for five seconds before asking the women if they felt it.
The researchers say the study is the first of its kind.
'This study focused particularly on younger women to establish a first series of normative data for light touch, pressure, and vibration sensitivity on the perineum and breast area,' they wrote in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
RESULTS:
Light touch: The neck, forearm, and vaginal margin (the edge of the vagina closest to the anus) are the most sensitive areas, and the areola is the least sensitive.
Pressure: The clitoris and nipple are the most sensitive, and the side boob and abdomen are the least.
Vibration: The clitoris and nipple are most sensitive, with the clitoris being the most sensitive to vibration out of all the body parts.
