What Does Pornography Do to Your Brain? An Addiction Researcher Explains

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Pornography, commonly known as porn, includes materials like videos, images, or books that explicitly showcase sexual content for arousal. In today’s digital era, access to this material is more widespread than ever. Recent research published in the Journal of Sex Research utilized Similarweb’s data to illustrate this point, showing that the most visited pornography site has 700 million more visits than Amazon and 1.5 billion more than Netflix. While predominantly consumed by men, research highlights a growing trend among a substantial number of women engaging with pornographic content.

Even though pornography is prevalent, there remains a significant gap in comprehensive research detailing what effects porn may have on the brain. Understanding that intercourse has marked effects on the mind and that there’s a difference between healthy self-pleasure and masturbation addiction, there’s more we can learn by exploring some of the current science on what consuming porn can do to the brain.

Addiction is often defined among clinical professionals as excessive engagement with anything to the point where it interferes with daily life. Whether it’s gambling, social media, substance- or sex-related or otherwise, this pattern can be detrimental to personal well-being and relationships. Research is showing that persistent consumption of pornography is associated with actual physical changes in the brain that could lead to a variety of psychological and behavioral issues. Although some argue that pornography can serve beneficial roles in sexual education, personal exploration, and even enhancing relationships, there is a growing concern about its habitual use.

Ahead, we explore the current understanding regarding pornography’s effects on the brain, its potential influence on behavior, and available resources for those who believe they may be struggling with pornography addiction.

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Does pornography affect your brain? Research and experts explain

A key 2014 psychiatry study, which was the first to implement brain scans among pornography users, found several important effects pornography has on the brain. Brain activity showed that frequent users had reduced gray matter in the striatum (a critical part of the brain’s reward system), displayed weaker responses to sexual images, and had diminished connectivity between the prefrontal cortex (the decision-making center) and the reward system.

These results indicate that regular and intense exposure to pornography might reduce sensitivity to sexual stimuli, affect decision-making skills, and possibly prompt the individual to seek out more novel or deviant content.

However, by early 2024, psychology professor and addiction researcher Joshua Grubbs, PhD, explained: “A careful read of the science around pornography use does not support the idea that pornography is abnormally changing people’s brains or stunting neural development. Almost all human hobbies and interests lead to subtle changes in brain structure.” Dr. Grubbs noted that observed changes are not necessarily signs of dysfunction or abnormal development, and added that “it is consistent with the familiar idea that different activities and hobbies change our brains in different ways.”

Dr. Grubbs also addressed the association between pornography use and mental health issues, stating that most evidence does not show a cause-and-effect relationship—meaning that while there may be a link between pornography use and conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress, pornography may not always be to blame for these conditions.

It is worth noting that if porn consumption is leading to isolation, lack of sleep, or other behavior that might be considered anti-social in a clinical setting, this could be a reliable sign that there is another psychological factor in play.

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What does pornography do to your brain? Here’s what research says

1. Pornography activates the reward system of your brain

Pornography triggers the brain’s reward system by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This can create a dopamine-driven feedback loop, seeking more of the content to sustain the pleasurable feelings.

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2. Pornography creates changes in brain plasticity

Frequent exposure to pornography can alter brain plasticity, meaning it can change the way the brain responds to sexual stimuli. Over time, this may result in a need for more novel or extreme content to achieve the same level of arousal.

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3. Pornography creates desensitization to sexual stimuli in your brain

Research like the 2014 study suggests that as the brain gets accustomed to the high levels of stimulation that porn provides, it may become desensitized to normal sexual activity. This can diminish the pleasure derived from real-life sexual encounters and potentially disrupt personal relationships and intimacy with a partner.

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What is considered pornography addiction?

In theory, pornography addiction is an inability to stop viewing porn despite the desire to do so, where the obsession disrupts work, relationships, and daily life. Although the scientific and psychiatric communities do not officially classify excessive pornography use as an addictive disorder, it is often referred to as “problematic pornographic use.”

Signs that may indicate a pornography addiction include:

• Pornography becomes a focal point of your life, overshadowing hobbies, personal care, and social activities.
• It damages relationships and leads to neglect of responsibilities.
• Job or academic performance declines due to inappropriate viewing in these environments.
• Sexual satisfaction diminishes, accompanied by a desire for increasingly intense or frequent content.
• Persistent struggles to cease watching despite reduced enjoyment and multiple attempts to quit.

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How long does it take to detox from pornography?

The time needed to detox from pornography varies for each individual, but here are some effective strategies to aid in recovery:

Counseling and therapy: Engaging with a licensed therapist can provide tailored strategies to manage and overcome the urge to view pornography. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is particularly effective in changing harmful patterns of behavior.

Medications: While there are no specific medications for pornography addiction, medications for issues like depression or anxiety can be helpful as part of a broader treatment plan.

Support Groups: Participating in support groups can provide encouragement and insight from others facing similar challenges. Look for groups specifically focused on overcoming addiction to pornography. For assistance finding professionals who specialize in these treatments, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-4357.

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