From the article: "'It’s the hard question I want to answer,' he says. 'What creates consciousness?'"

This isn't just rhetoric: he's talking about a major area of philosophy of consciousness called the hard problem or hard question -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_problem_of_consciousness -- and if they answer that via the medium of masturbation I'll be tickled pink.

I hope that double entendre was intentional.

I don't think he did it consciously.

Having participated on the researcher end of fMRI stuff, I am impressed if they can get a lot of women to actually climax in there. You really need to be focused on what you're doing, because there are a multitude of distractions. fMRI is significantly louder than a typical MRI exam, for example.

On a side not. You can bring metal stuff into the MRI room. It just can't be ferromagnetic. It's fun to play with sheets of aluminum and coins in the high field area. The metal will resist movement due to eddy current effects.

If 'used properly' in this context, it is likely even louder! :)

I found this part disturbing: "The business-savvy Komisaruk already has taken out a patent on the peptide that creates [post-orgasm bliss]." What an awful thing to do.

According to the article, a portion of his research focuses on lessening pain. The patenting of the peptide would probably be for pain-reduction application (big money in pain meds), rather than creating an orgasm pill.

You seriously don't think there would be money in an orgasm pill?

Isn't there an orgasm-by-wire already?

What does it mean to patent a peptide? I suppose that it doesn't mean that everyone has to pay him to get an orgasm. He didn't patent a process for making the peptide either. So perhaps it's the use of the peptide in other situations than a natural orgasm? If I discover a planet, can I patent the use of the planet?

> I suppose that it doesn't mean that everyone has to pay him to get an orgasm.

I laughed so hard after reading that and thinking of the implications of such a scenario. My gf asked my what happened; I told her someone has patented orgasm bliss. I think she believed me and seemed genuinely concerned about paying someone to get orgasm.

Girlfriend's never been to Vegas, has she?

It might well fail a challenge, like the patent on the BRCA2 cancer gene did.

You'll have a patent war on your hands with the Magratheans.

We'll have to see if/how he uses it. He could simply have patented it to prevent anyone else from doing so and abusing it.

If he publishes and doesn't file a patent, no one can.

Ah, I didn't know that. Though I suppose it makes sense.

I've read the whole thing, and while it is kind of light on the science, it is well written and fun to read.

Quoting the article...

"I try to remain calm as a vision of dangerous flying dildos passes through my mind."

What a boring way to study it... :-)

"While the 68-year-old Komisaruk has been witness to more than 200 live-action orgasms in his lab..."

Boring?

Wouldn't you rather be a participant than a witness?

At 68, the lab would turn to a funeral scene in 3 seconds flat.

The risk will only get worse the more he delays.

If attempting coitus would pose a health risk at 68, then he certainly shouldn't make an attempt at 69.

I guess he's adding to his personal experience rather than substituting.

I disagree, he probably has one of the top 5 research jobs in the nation!