Brain Heart World How Porn Affects the Brain Like a Drug
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GET THE FACTS BRAIN HEART WORLD HOW PORN AFFECTS THE BRAIN LIKE A DRUG It may be surprising, but porn affects the brain in ways very similar to harmful substances, like tobacco. Studies have shown that porn stimu- lates the same areas of the brain as addictive drugs, making the brain release the same chemicals. And just like drugs, porn triggers pathways KEY TAKEAWAYS in the brain that cause craving, leading users back for more and more • To your brain, porn has the same extreme “hits” to get high. effects as drugs. • Porn hijacks the reward pathway in n the surface, tobacco and porn don’t pursuing more of the drug. [8] Essentially, the brain. seem to have much in common. One addictive drugs hijack the brain, turning it • Just like drugs, you build up a toler- is kept behind the counter at the gas around and forcing it in a direction it was ance so you need more porn for the Ostation or supermarket because of its well- never meant to go. Instead of encouraging same effects. known harmful effects; the other is available the consumer toward healthy behaviors, • Withdrawal symptoms can occur virtually anywhere. One can quickly become drugs lead the consumer into things that when you try and walk away. an expensive habit while the other comes aren’t healthy at all, and can even be dan- free with an internet connection. And let’s be gerous. [9] honest, Hugh Hefner doesn’t exactly conjure images of a secretive tobacco executive. Want to guess what else does that? Porn. So where’s the similarity? Inside the brain. Researchers have found that internet porn and addictive substances like tobacco have In case you’re not a neurosurgeon, here’s a very similar effects on the brain, [10] and crash course in how the brain works. Deep they are significantly different from how inside the brain, there’s something called a the brain reacts to healthy, natural plea- “reward center.” [1] You’ve got one. Your dog’s sures like food or sex. [11] Think about it. got one. For mammals, it comes standard. When you’re munching a snack or enjoy- The reward center’s job is to release “pleasure” ing a romantic encounter, eventually your chemicals into your brain whenever you do cravings will drop and you’ll feel satisfied. something healthy, like eating tasty food, Why? Because your brain has a built-in doing a hard workout, or enjoying a kiss. [2] “off” switch for natural pleasures. “Dopa- The “high” you get from that chemical rush mine cells stop firing after repeated con- makes you want to repeat that behavior again sumption of a ‘natural reward’ (e.g. food and again. [3] Thanks to your reward center, or sex),” explains Nora Volkow, Director of your brain is hardwired to motivate you to The National Institute of Drug Abuse. [12] do things that will improve your health and But addictive drugs go right on increasing chances of survival. [4] It’s a great system… dopamine levels without giving the brain a normally. break. [13] The more hits drug users take, the more dopamine floods their brain, and The problem is, the brain can be tricked. the stronger their urges are to keep using. That’s why drug addicts find it so hard to When addictive substances are used, they give stop once they take the first hit. “[O]ne the brain a “false signal.” [5] Since the brain hit may turn into many hits, or even a lost can’t tell the difference between the drugs weekend.” [14] and a real, healthy reward, it goes ahead and activates the reward center. [6] An important What else has the power to keep pumping chemical called dopamine is released, which dopamine endlessly into the brain? You makes the brain start developing a craving for guessed it: porn. the fake reward. [7] As long as there’s a lot of dopamine floating around in the brain, the Scientists have long known that sexual cravings will keep getting stronger, and the interest and performance can be increased consumer will feel super-motivation to keep simply by introducing something new— Get the Facts on Pornography © 2017 FIGHT THE NEW DRUG™ Learn more at FTND.org like a different sexual position, a toy, or a America, 110, 2. Doi:10.1073/Pnas.1301228110; Dopamine. Neuron, 76, 470-485. Doi:10.1016/J. change of partner. [15] That’s because the Hedges, V. L., Chakravarty, S., Nestler, E. J., & neuron.2012.10.021 brain responds to new sexual stimuli by Meisel, R. L. (2009). Delta FosB Overexpression In The Nucleus Accumbens Enhances Sexual [8] Berridge, K. C., & Robinson, T. E. (2016). pumping out more and more dopamine, Reward In Female Syrian Hamsters. Genes Brain Liking, Wanting, And The Incentive-Sensitization flooding the brain just like a drug would. And Behavior, 8(4), 442–449. Doi:10.1111/J.1601- Theory Of Addiction. American Psychologist, [16] And “new” is exactly what internet 183X.2009.00491.X 71(8), 670-679. Doi:10.1037/Amp0000059; Vol- porn sites provide: an endless stream of kow, N. D., Wang. G. J., Fowler, J. S., Tomasi, D., fresh erotic images delivered at high speed, [3] Bostwick, J. M., & Bucci, J. E. (2008). & Telang, F. (2011). Addiction: Beyond Dopamine Internet Sex Addiction Treated With Naltrex- Reward Circuitry. Proceedings Of The National in vivid color, 24/7. Before consumers one. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 83(2), 226–230. Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of even start to get bored, they can always Doi:10.4065/83.2.226; Doidge, N. (2007). The America, 108(37),15037-15042. Doi:10.1073/ give themselves another dopamine boost Brain That Changes Itself. New York: Penguin Pnas.1010654108; Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain just by clicking on something different, Books. (106-108). That Changes Itself. (108) New York: Penguin something more stimulating and hardcore Books. than before. [17] [4] Berridge, K. C., & Robinson, T. E. (2016). Liking, Wanting, And The Incentive-Sensitization [9] Hilton, D. L. (2013). Pornography Addic- Theory Of Addiction. American Psychologist, tion—A Supranormal Stimulus Considered In The In fact, porn consumption follows a very 71(8), 670-679. Doi:10.1037/Amp0000059; Ber- Context Of Neuroplasticity. Socioaffective Neu- predictable pattern that’s eerily similar ridge, K.C., & Kringelbach, M. L. (2015). Pleasure roscience & Psychology, 3, 20767. Doi:10.3402/ to drug use. Over time, excessive levels Systems In The Brain. Neuron, 86, 646-664. Snp.v3i0.20767; Kauer, J. A., And Malenka, J. C. of “pleasure” chemicals cause the porn Doi:10.1016/J.neuron.2015.02.018; Paul, P. (2007). (2007). Synaptic Plasticity And Addiction: Nature consumer’s brain to develop tolerance, just Pornified: How Pornography Is Transforming Reviews Neuroscience, 8: 844-858. Doi:10.1038/ Our Lives, Our Relationships, And Our Families. Nrn2234; Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That like the brain of a drug user. [19] In the (75) New York: Henry Hold And Co.; Hyman, S. Changes Itself. (106-109) New York: Penguin same way that a junkie eventually requires E. (2005). Addiction: A Disease Of Learning And Books; Hyman, S. E. (2005). Addiction: A Disease more and more of a drug to get a buzz or Memory. American Journal Of Psychiatry, 162(8), Of Learning And Memory. American Journal Of even feel normal, regular porn consumers 1414-1422. Doi:10.1176/Appi.ajp.162.8.1414 Psychiatry, 162(8), 1414-1422. Doi:10.1176/Appi. will end up turning to porn more often or ajp.162.8.1414 [5] Stacy, A. W., & Wiers, R. W. (2010). Implicit seeking out more extreme versions—or Cognition And Addiction: A Tool For Explaining [10] Voon, V., Et Al. (2014). Neural Correlates both—to feel excited again. [20] And once Paradoxical Behavior, Annual Review Of Clinical Of Sexual Cue Reactivity In Individuals With the porn habit is established, quitting can Psychology, 6, 551-575. Doi:10.1146/Annurev. And Without Compulsive Sexual Behaviors, even lead to withdrawal symptoms similar clinpsy.121208.131444 PLoS ONE, 9(7), E102419. Doi:10.1371/Journal. to drugs. [21] pone.0102419; Pitchers, K. K., Et Al. (2013). Nat- [6] Volkow, N. D., Koob, G. F., & McLellan, A. ural And Drug Rewards Act On Common Neural T. (2016). Neurobiological Advances From The Plasticity Mechanisms With DeltaFosB As A Key But there’s good news too. Even those with Brain Disease Model Of Addiction. New England Mediator. Journal Of Neuroscience, 33(8), 3434- serious porn habits can break away and Journal Of Medicine, 374, 363-371. Doi:10.1056/ 3442. Doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4881-12.2013 reclaim their lives. Thousands have done it, NEJMra1511480; Berridge, K.C., & Kringel- [22] and if you’re looking for resources for bach, M. L. (2015). Pleasure Systems In The [11] Park, B. Y., Et Al. (2016). Is Internet Pornog- yourself or a loved one, click here to learn Brain. Neuron, 86, 646-664. Doi.org/10.1016/J. raphy Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review more. neuron.2015.02.018; Volkow, N. D., & Morales, With Clinical Reports. Behavioral Sciences, 6, 17. M. (2015). The Brain On Drugs: From Reward Doi:10.3390/Bs6030017 To Addiction. Cell, 162 (8), 713. Doi:10.1016/J. cell.2015.07.046; Voon, V., Et Al. (2014). Neural [12] Volkow, N. D., Koob, G. F., & McLellan, A. Citations Correlates Of Sexual Cue Reactivity In Individuals T. (2016). Neurobiological Advances From The With And Without Compulsive Sexual Behaviors, Brain Disease Model Of Addiction. New England [1] National Institute On Drug Abuse: The Reward PLoS ONE, 9(7), E102419.