Women with a low sex drive could now have a scientific explanation for their lack of desire after scientists found their brains behave differently. Those with a low libido have different patterns of brain activity to women with a healthy sex drive, according to a new study.

Scientists asked women to watch a series of videos, including erotic scenes, and measured their brain’s response using MRI scans.

Certain areas of the brain that normally light up when processing information about sex failed to do so in women with low libido.

Researcher Michael Diamond, from Wayne State University in Detroit, said the findings offered “significant evidence” that persistent low sex drive – known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder – is a genuine physiological disorder and not made up.