Abstract

Many scientists postulate that several behavioral patterns may potentially affect the reward circuits in human brain leading to a loss of control and other symptoms of addiction in some individuals at least, yet despite the growing acceptance of the existence of these behavioral addictions based on the increased understanding of the function of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward systems, there has been a reluctance to label Pornography as potentially addictive. Pornography consumption is becoming one of the most prevalent activities among the young adults and the adult groups, and its prevalence continues to increase as a direct consequence to the increased use of the internet. There is no clear answer to whether it is beneficial or harmful, or how does it affect our brain, thus in this manuscript, I tried to find the answer to this question, in order to keep up with the technological advances in our modern age. Studying internet pornography consumption is relatively a novel topic to delve into, contrasting between it and the other behavioral addictions or applying the three stage model of addiction wasn't done before, and there have been a clear reluctance to consider pornography as a potentially addictive behavior in spite of considering other behavioral addictions such as gambling and gaming addictions. Regarding Pornography, the current neuroscientific research supports the assumption that the responsible neural processes are similar to drug addictions and other non-drug addiction receiving greater attention such as pathological gambling and gaming, the current evidence are increasingly supporting the description of pornography as an addiction. In this review, I tried to give a summary of the most recent advances in the research into this matter trying to give an overview about neuroscientific, neuropsychiatric and neurobiological studies on Internet pornography addiction and compulsive sexual disorder, trying to find answers to the questions about internet pornography and other behavioral addictions. In addition to reviewing most of the available literature on Internet pornography addiction and comparing the results to the three stage addiction model and the neurobiological basis of the other non-behavioral addictions. Finally, while much remains unknown about the effects of Internet pornography on mental health, society, marriages and families were it positive or negative, the available data will hopefully provide an informed starting point for policy makers, educators, clinicians, and researchers.