In the collective imagination, socks are not considered sexy. How many times have we seen the protagonists of a movie or sitcom who, before having an intimate relationship, the first thing they do is take off their socks.
An experiment conducted by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands has shown that socks can help both women and men achieve orgasm. The explanation is that these accessories prevent the feet from getting cold during intercourse, which can be distracting, uncomfortable or prevent partners from fully releasing.
The study, led by Gert Holstege and his team, involved 13 heterosexual couples aged 19–49. The room where the experiment took place was free of noise and distractions, and the lighting was kept dim.
One partner took turns lying with their head inside a scanner while the other partner manually stimulated them to orgasm. Initially, the exercise was performed without socks, and only 50% of the participants climaxed. When the participants were given socks, the percentage increased to 80%.
So, put aside any prejudices and, especially in winter, do not hesitate to wear wool socks if necessary: warm feet, or at least at a comfortable temperature, can help anyone experience more pleasure during intimate intercourse. It doesn't matter if these accessories don't seem sexy at all or give you a less elegant or childish look: after all, you don't even need to look at them, especially when you're under the blankets with your partner during the cold months.
However, the socks issue was not the main focus of the study. The real objective was to understand, through brain scans, how orgasm works, even when it is simulated. When an orgasm is faked, a part of the brain lights up and shows awareness, while the actual experience of pleasure is an unconscious process.
The study also highlighted the differences between male and female orgasms. Men need to know that they will receive physical stimulation, while for women it is essential to be free from anxiety or fear. In men, high activation of brain areas associated with tactile experience was observed. For women, it was emphasized that it is very difficult to experience intercourse (and release) if they feel afraid.
"When you want to make love to a woman," Holstege explained to the BBC, "you have to make her feel protected."
As for orgasm simulation, the women in the study were asked to intentionally fake it so that the scan results could be compared to those of a real orgasm. According to Holstege, women are able to imitate orgasm quite convincingly.
