When a quiver has little to do with a pen

A MONTREAL psychology student's research may make the earth move for some people - but not in the field of geology.

By developing a questionnaire which gathers adjectives that describe orgasm, Kenneth Mah is trying to discover what people feel and experience during sexual climax. The McGill University doctoral student says his objective is to understand the psychological side of orgasm. The questionnaire, an adaptation of a model originally meant to gauge pain, asks participants how well 60 adjectives describe their orgasm.

Those taking part in the survey spend time pondering the exactitude of words such as quivering, satisfying, pulsating, throbbing and, of course, passionate.

Mr Mah hopes his study will provide more precise ways for practitioners to ask questions about patients' orgasms that go beyond the interrogatory, "do you experience problems with orgasm?" Mr Mah said:"We don't have a clear idea what orgasm is."

Little is known about the sensation's psychological side and he says that much of the research being conducted today simply focuses on the physical issues, such as stimulation.

His orgasm study, funded by one of Canada's large research councils, was originally inspired by a disabled patient of one of his colleagues, whose paralysis in the bottom half of his body did not stop him from achieving orgasm.

After analysing the findings from the first sample group of 1,000 students, Mr Mah would like to gather more subjects and complete another sample group survey before going public.

If you would like to take part in the survey, e-mail Kenneth Mah at kenneth@ego.psych.mcgill.ca. Or write to him at the Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1B1, and ask for a questionnaire.