Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update

Behavioral Sciences

Todd Love³  Christian Laier²  Matthias Brand²  Linda Hatch⁴  Raju Hajela¹ 

[1] Health Upwardly Mobile Inc., Calgary, AB T2S 0J2, Canada; E-Mail:;Department of General Psychology: Cognition, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg 47057, Germany; E-Mails:;Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health, Ardmore, PA 19003, USA;Private Practice, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: internet pornography addiction;    internet addiction;    internet gaming disorder;    neuroscience;    neuroimaging;    DSM-5;    behavioral addiction;    addictive behavior;    cybersex;    online sexual behavior;   

DOI  :  10.3390/bs5030388

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Many recognize that several behaviors potentially affecting the reward circuitry in human brains lead to a loss of control and other symptoms of addiction in at least some individuals. Regarding Internet addiction, neuroscientific research supports the assumption that underlying neural processes are similar to substance addiction. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has recognized one such Internet related behavior, Internet gaming, as a potential addictive disorder warranting further study, in the 2013 revision of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Other Internet related behaviors, e.g., Internet pornography use, were not covered. Within this review, we give a summary of the concepts proposed underlying addiction and give an overview about neuroscientific studies on Internet addiction and Internet gaming disorder. Moreover, we reviewed available neuroscientific literature on Internet pornography addiction and connect the results to the addiction model. The review leads to the conclusion that Internet pornography addiction fits into the addiction framework and shares similar basic mechanisms with substance addiction. Together with studies on Internet addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder we see strong evidence for considering addictive Internet behaviors as behavioral addiction. Future research needs to address whether or not there are specific differences between substance and behavioral addiction.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.