The Neuroscience Behind Pornography Addiction
Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update
Citation: Love T, Laier C, Brand M, Hatch L, Hajela R. Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update. Behav Sci (Basel). 2015 Sep 18;5(3):388-433. doi: 10.3390/bs5030388. PMID: 26393658; PMCID: PMC4600144.
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Within the field of addiction research, a significant and transformative change is taking place, expanding our comprehension much beyond the traditional limitations of substances such as drugs and alcohol. Neuroscience is at the forefront of this transformation, uncovering that certain behaviors, especially those related to the Internet, can take control of the brain's reward system, resulting in addiction-like symptoms in certain individuals. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) acknowledged this by incorporating Internet Gaming Disorder into the DSM-5 for more investigation while excluding other online activities such as Internet pornography consumption.
Contemporary neuroscientific studies establish a correlation between the neural mechanisms involved in Internet addiction and those associated with substance addiction. This narrative summary explores the complex network of addiction models and the persuasive evidence that connects Internet pornography addiction to these models, indicating a common underlying mechanism with substance addiction. The convergence of research on Internet addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder highlights the importance of examining addictive Internet behaviors within the framework of behavioral addiction, leading to a discussion on the distinct variations between substance addiction and behavioral addiction.
The term 'addiction' has generally been associated with drugs and alcohol. However, recent neuroscientific discoveries have broadened this understanding to encompass behaviors that consistently activate the reward, motivation, and memory systems, thus becoming part of the addiction framework. Both the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) have recognized and accepted this expansion. The APA's version of the DSM-5 acknowledges that gambling behaviors and Internet Gaming Disorder activate reward systems in a manner comparable to substance misuse, indicating the presence of addictive behavior.
This paper explores the intricate connection between addiction and substance abuse throughout history, as well as delving into the complexities of neuroscientific research. This text provides a comprehensive analysis of the main theories of addiction, the neurobiological foundation of addictive behaviors, and focuses specifically on Internet addiction, exploring its various subcategories such as gaming and pornography. Furthermore, it examines the current neuroscientific studies on the neuroscience of addiction, including functional neuroimaging, genetics, and the disruption of cognitive processes by sexual stimuli.
In conclusion, the results of this review definitively place Internet pornography addiction within the context of addiction, as it shares the same brain and cognitive pathways as substance addiction. This emphasizes the urgent requirement for further investigation to decipher the specific characteristics that differentiate chemical addiction from behavioral addictions, promoting a nuanced comprehension of the powerful influence of the Internet on contemporary addiction dynamics.
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