scholarly journals Can pornography be addictive? An fMRI study of men seeking treatment for problematic pornography use

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Gola ◽  
Małgorzata Wordecha ◽  
Guillaume Sescousse ◽  
Michał Lew-Starowicz ◽  
Bartosz Kossowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Monetary Rewards ◽  
Pornography Consumption ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Anticipatory Processing ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
Behavioral Motivation ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
Behavioral Mechanisms

AbstractPornography consumption is highly prevalent, particularly among young adult males. For some individuals, problematic pornography use (PPU) is a reason for seeking treatment. Despite the pervasiveness of pornography, PPU appears under-investigated, including with respect to the underlying neural mechanisms.Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined ventral striatal responses to erotic and monetary stimuli, disentangling cue-related ‘wanting’ from reward-related ‘liking’ among 28 heterosexual males seeking treatment for PPU and 24 heterosexual males without PPU. Subjects engaged in an incentive delay task in the scanner, in which they received erotic or monetary rewards preceded by predictive cues. BOLD responses to erotic and monetary cues were analyzed and examined with respect to self-reported data on sexual activity collected over the 2 preceding months.Men with and without PPU differed in their striatal responses to cues predicting erotic pictures, but not in their responses to erotic pictures. PPU subjects when compared to control subjects showed increased activation of ventral striatum specifically for cues predicting erotic pictures but not for cues predicting monetary gains. Relative sensitivity to cues predicting erotic pictures versus monetary gains was significantly related to the increased behavioral motivation to view erotic images (suggestive of higher ‘wanting’), severity of PPU, amount of pornography use per week and number of weekly masturbations.Our findings suggest that, similar to what is observed in substance and gambling addictions, the neural and behavioral mechanisms associated with the anticipatory processing of cues specifically predicting erotic rewards relate importantly to clinically relevant features of PPU. These findings suggest that PPU may represent a behavioral addiction and that interventions helpful in targeting behavioral and substance addictions warrant consideration for adaptation and use in helping men with PPU.

Extrinsic Inter- and Intra-specific Competition in Parasitoid Wasps

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Ode ◽  
Dhaval K. Vyas ◽  
Jeffrey A. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Apparent Competition ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Natural Ecosystem ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Alternate Host ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Behavioral Mechanisms

The diverse ecology of parasitoids is shaped by extrinsic competition, i.e., exploitative or interference competition among adult females and males for hosts and mates. Adult females use an array of morphological, chemical, and behavioral mechanisms to engage in competition that may be either intra- or interspecific. Weaker competitors are often excluded or, if they persist, use alternate host habitats, host developmental stages, or host species. Competition among adult males for mates is almost exclusively intraspecific and involves visual displays, chemical signals, and even physical combat. Extrinsic competition influences community structure through its role in competitive displacement and apparent competition. Finally, anthropogenic changes such as habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, pollutants, and climate change result in phenological mismatches and range expansions within host–parasitoid communities with consequent changes to the strength of competitive interactions. Such changes have important ramifications not only for the success of managed agroecosystems, but also for natural ecosystem functioning. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Entomology, Volume 67 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Associations Between Smoking Abstinence, Inhibitory Control, and Smoking Behavior: An fMRI Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer Bell ◽  
Brett Froeliger
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Smoking Abstinence ◽  
Monetary Rewards ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Right ◽  
Post Hoc

Nicotine addiction is associated with dysregulated inhibitory control (IC), mediated by corticothalamic circuitry including the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG). Among sated smokers, worse IC task performance and greater IC-related rIFG activity have been shown to be associated with greater relapse vulnerability. The present study investigated the effects of smoking abstinence on associations between IC task performance, rIFG activation, and smoking behavior. Smokers (N = 26, 15 female) completed an IC task (Go/Go/No-go) during fMRI scanning followed by a laboratory-based smoking relapse analog task (SRT) on two visits: once when sated and once following 24 h of smoking abstinence. During the SRT, smokers were provided with monetary rewards for incrementally delaying smoking. A significant main effect of No-go accuracy on latency to smoke during the SRT was observed when collapsing across smoking states (abstinent vs. sated). Similarly, a significant main effect of IC-related activation in rIFG on SRT performance was observed across states. The main effect of state, however, was non-significant in both of these models. Furthermore, the interaction between smoking state and No-go accuracy on SRT performance was non-significant, indicating a similar relationship between IC and lapse vulnerability under both sated and abstinent conditions. The state X rIFG activation interaction on SRT performance was likewise non-significant. Post-hoc whole brain analyses indicated that abstinence resulted in greater IC-related activity in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and insula. Activation during IC in these regions was significantly associated with decreased No-go accuracy. Moreover, greater abstinence induced activity in right MFG during IC was associated with smoking sooner on the SRT. These findings are bolstered by the extant literature on the effects of nicotine on executive function and also contribute novel insights on how individual differences in behavioral and neuroimaging measures of IC may influence relapse propensity independent of smoking state.

Is Pornography Consumption a Risk Factor for Condomless Sex?

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 273-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S Tokunaga ◽  
Paul J Wright ◽  
Laurens Vangeel
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Condomless Sex ◽  
Pornography Consumption ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Pornography Use

Abstract This paper presents meta-analytic findings on the association between pornography consumption and condomless sex. Results were based on 45 reports spanning two decades. Data from 18 countries, with a participant total of over 35,000, were located. Higher levels of pornography consumption were associated with an elevated likelihood of engaging in condomless sex. A model-based meta-analysis did not support the viewpoint that the pornography use–condomless sex association is spurious and confounded by sensation seeking. Instead, a path analysis suggested that pornography use energizes consumers' sensation seeking desires, in turn making them more likely to engage in condomless sex. Although the results indicated homogeneity of effect sizes across most contexts tested, the type of pornography content consumed moderated the pornography use–condomless sex relationship. Viewing pornography that does not show condoms was associated with an increased risk for having sex without condoms, whereas consuming pornography showing condoms was unrelated to sexual risk.

scholarly journals Affection substitution: The effect of pornography consumption on close relationships

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 3887-3907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Hesse ◽  
Kory Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Relational Satisfaction ◽  
Coping Mechanism ◽  
Need To Belong ◽  
Pornography Consumption ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
The Relationship

Scholars have stated that humans have a fundamental need to belong, but less is known about whether individuals can use other resources to substitute for close relationships. In this study, 357 adults reported their level of affection deprivation, their weekly pornography consumption, their goals for using pornography (including life satisfaction and loneliness reduction), and indicators of their individual and relational wellness. We hypothesized that individuals might consume pornography as a coping mechanism (either adaptive or maladaptive) to deal with affection deprivation, with affection deprivation relating to the goals for using pornography and consumption potentially moderating the relationships between affection deprivation and the outcome measures. As predicted, affection deprivation and pornography consumption were inversely related to relational satisfaction and closeness, while being positively related to loneliness and depression. Affection deprivation was positively related with most stated goals for pornography use (although the relationship between affection deprivation and pornography consumption was nonsignificant). The moderation hypothesis, however, showed little evidence, yielding a moderating effect only on the relationship between affection deprivation and depression (with nonsignificant effects for relational satisfaction, closeness, and loneliness). Overall, there is some evidence that pornography consumption is used as a form of affection substitution (dealing with the perception of affection deprivation). However, there is no evidence of consumption being either adaptive or maladaptive when it comes to relationship satisfaction, closeness, and loneliness, although it is possibly maladaptive in terms of depression.

scholarly journals Comparison of Semantic and Episodic Memory BOLD fMRI Activation in Predicting Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Hantke ◽  
Kristy A. Nielson ◽  
John L. Woodard ◽  
Leslie M. Guidotti Breting ◽  
Alissa Butts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Identification Of Persons

AbstractPrevious studies suggest that task-activated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can predict future cognitive decline among healthy older adults. The present fMRI study examined the relative sensitivity of semantic memory (SM) versus episodic memory (EM) activation tasks for predicting cognitive decline. Seventy-eight cognitively intact elders underwent neuropsychological testing at entry and after an 18-month interval, with participants classified as cognitively “Stable” or “Declining” based on ≥1.0 SD decline in performance. Baseline fMRI scanning involved SM (famous name discrimination) and EM (name recognition) tasks. SM and EM fMRI activation, along with Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status, served as predictors of cognitive outcome using a logistic regression analysis. Twenty-seven (34.6%) participants were classified as Declining and 51 (65.4%) as Stable. APOE ε4 status alone significantly predicted cognitive decline (R2 = .106; C index = .642). Addition of SM activation significantly improved prediction accuracy (R2 = .285; C index = .787), whereas the addition of EM did not (R2 = .212; C index = .711). In combination with APOE status, SM task activation predicts future cognitive decline better than EM activation. These results have implications for use of fMRI in prevention clinical trials involving the identification of persons at-risk for age-associated memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–11)

scholarly journals Case-Based Evidence for Screening Pornography in Marital Therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 263183182110275
Author(s):  
Manoj Kumar Sharma ◽  
Nitin Anand ◽  
Shweta Sunil ◽  
Ashwini Tadpatrikar ◽  
Akash Vishwakarma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Program ◽  
Marital Therapy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Female Partner ◽  
Sexual Life ◽  
Sexual Expression ◽  
Specialty Clinic ◽  
Pornography Consumption ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
Case Based

Pornography has become a modality to experience sexual expression. It is used in a recreational manner to enhance sexual life. However, in some cases, excessive usage can lead to distress in the other partner. In this case, the client sought help at the specialty clinic for management of pornography use. A clinical interview was used to get details of the patterns of porn use and dysfunctions caused by the same. Beck’s Depression Inventory was used for the assessment of associated depression. The results highlight the presence of distress in the female partner due to excessive pornography consumption in the other partner. This report has implications for developing sensitization and intervention program to address these issues within the marital context.

scholarly journals Distributed and multifaceted effects of threat and safety

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Morrow ◽  
Dinavahi V P S Murty ◽  
Jongwan Kim ◽  
Songtao Song ◽  
Kesong Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stria Terminalis ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Study ◽  
Bed Nucleus ◽  
Aversive Events ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Anticipatory Processing ◽  
Small Set ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Sustained anticipation of unpredictable aversive events generates anticipatory processing that is central to anxiety. In the present functional Magnetic Resonance Study (fMRI) study, we examined how sustained threat is processed in the human brain. We used a relatively large sample (N = 109) and employed a Bayesian multilevel analysis approach to contrast threat and safe periods. Our analyses demonstrated that the effect of sustained threat is heterogeneous and distributed across the brain. Thus, the impact of threat is widespread, and not restricted to a small set of putatively emotion-related regions, such as the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Both transient and sustained, and increased and decreased responses during threat were observed. Our study reveals that transitioning between threat and safe states, and vice versa, leads to a widespread switch in brain responding that involves most of the brain.

scholarly journals Unbuckling the Bible Belt: A State-level Analysis of Religious Factors and Google Searches for Porn

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L Whitehead ◽  
Samuel L. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Church Attendance ◽  
Religious Commitment ◽  
State Level ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Pornography Consumption ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
Evangelical Protestants ◽  
Religious Factors ◽  
Lower Frequencies

While the link between individual religious characteristics and pornography consumption is well established, relatively little research has considered how the wider religious context may influence pornography use. Exceptions in the literature to date have relied on relatively broad, subjective measures of religious commitment, largely ignoring issues of religious belonging, belief, or practice. This study moves the conversation forward by examining how a variety of state-level religious factors predict Google searches for the term “porn,” net of relevant sociodemographic and ideological controls. Our multivariate findings indicate that higher percentages of evangelical Protestants, theists, and Biblical literalists in a state predict higher frequencies of searching for “porn,” as do higher church attendance rates. Conversely, higher percentages of religiously unaffiliated persons in a state predict lower frequencies of searching for “porn.” Higher percentages of total religious adherents, Catholics, or Mainline Protestants in a state are unrelated to searching for “porn” with controls in place. Contrary to recent research, our analyses also show that higher percentages of political conservatives in a state predicted lower frequencies of “porn” searches. Our findings support theories that more salient, traditional religious influences in a state may influence residents—whether religious or not—toward more covert sexual experiences.

scholarly journals Pornography as a Source of Sex Education and Genital-Related Satisfaction

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
K. Dawson ◽  
◽  
S. Nic Gabhainn ◽  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Pornography Consumption ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
Female Genital

Objective: To examine whether use of pornography as a source of sex education predicted male and female genital dissatisfaction, within a social comparison framework. Design and Method: This study is based on cross-sectional survey data from 2162 University students, of whom 47% were female. Data were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire, which included pornography consumption and frequency and context of use. A combination of eight items from the Male Genital Self-Image Scale and Female Genital Self-Image Scale assessed genital satisfaction. Results: Pornography consumption was reported by 99.7% of males and 89.6% of females, with 72% males and 65% females reporting sex education as a frequent context of their use. For males, those who frequently used pornography for sex education were most likely to report very positive feelings about their genitals (92%), high levels of comfort with a sexual partner looking at their genitals (90%) as well as genital size-related satisfaction (84%), when compared with those who reported that they never used pornography for sex education. For females, frequent use for sex education was associated with genital appearance-related dissatisfaction (40%), compared to females who did not (20%). Conclusions: High proportions of Irish University students use pornography for sex education purposes. The findings suggest that, in terms of genital self-image, males are more likely than females to be positive outcomes of such use. This highlights the importance of the context of pornography use and suggests a potential positive purpose for ‘porn literacy’.

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