(MENAFN- AsiaNet News) A recent study published in Human Brain Mapping has uncovered significant findings about the addictive nature of pornography compared to other internet-based activities such as video gaming, and non-primary reward like money. The research, which involved a detailed investigation using advanced neuroimaging techniques, indicates that pornography might elicit stronger reward responses in the brain than gambling or video games, even among healthy adult men.
Research overview
The study, conducted with 31 right-handed male participants aged between 19 and 38, explored how the human brain responds to various internet-related stimuli by employing a classical conditioning approach inside an MRI scanner. The participants were exposed to three types of stimuli: pornographic images, video game screenshots, and pictures of money. Each type of stimulus was paired with a small cash reward to ensure the participants' genuine interest and engagement.
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Methodology
The researchers aimed to understand how the brain links neutral stimuli (geometric figures) with rewards (pornography, gaming, or money). This conditioning was carried out across 68 trials. The study involved the following key methods to assess participants' responses:
Subjective Ratings: Participants rated the pleasantness and arousal of each stimulus before and after the conditioning process. These self-reports provided insight into how participants felt about each type of stimulus, revealing their subjective experience and emotional responses.
Skin Conductance Responses (SCR): The researchers measured physiological arousal by tracking changes in sweat gland activity. This method offered an objective measure of the participants' autonomic nervous system responses, indicating how physically aroused they were by each stimulus.
Functional MRI (fMRI) Scans: The study used fMRI to record brain activity and identify the neural correlates of reward processing. This technique allowed the researchers to map how different brain regions responded to the stimuli and provided a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying reward processing.
Key findings
The data collected revealed that geometric shapes associated with pornographic images were rated as more pleasant and arousing compared to those linked to video games or money. This suggests that pornography may have a stronger impact on the brain's reward system than other internet-based activities.
The study's findings contribute to the understanding of how internet-related rewards are processed by the brain, particularly in healthy individuals. While previous research has identified specific brain areas involved in reward processing, this study sheds light on how these areas respond specifically to internet-based rewards, a relatively underexplored aspect of neuroscience.
Implications
This research highlights the potential for pornography to create stronger conditioned responses in the brain compared to other common internet-based stimuli. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insights into the nature of internet addiction and help in developing strategies to address such behaviors. The study emphasizes the need for further research into how internet-based rewards influence behavior and brain function, particularly in the context of addiction and mental health.
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