“I dare say wires being crossed is quite an appropriate metaphor, as fMRI studies have documented masochists activating brain areas involved in sensory processing rather than affective pain processing when they receive painful stimuli within that particular context.” He nodded. “But through involvement of the parietal operculum, which suggests additional cognitive evaluation, not the ventral striatum, which would suggest the processing of rewards.”

In other words, it was less about pleasure and more about memory and cognitive reevaluation. Which seemed to fit with Rekker’s desire to remain in control of his pain. At least partially.