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Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update

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Love, Todd, Laier, Christian, Brand, Matthias, Hatch, Linda, Hajela, Raju·2015·Behavioral Sciences

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Abstract

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.

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Authors: Love, T., Laier, C., Brand, M., Hatch, L., & Hajela, R.
Affiliations: Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health, Ardmore, PA 19003, USA
University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DE)
Private Practice, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, USA
American Society of Addiction Medicine (US)
Corresponding author: Love, Todd
ORCID: Love, Todd
Brand, Matthias
Venue: Behavioral Sciences
Publisher: MDPI AG
Published: 2015-09-18
Volume: 5
Issue: 3
Pages: 388-433
ISSN: 2076-328X (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3390/bs5030388
PMC: PMC4600144
OpenAlex: W1910854322
Cited by: 262
References: 319
Citations by year: 2026: 22 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11
FWCI: 2.07
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
dx.doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: Behavioral Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
DuEPublico (University of Duisburg-Essen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Keywords: internet addiction, internet gaming disorder, behavioral addiction, substance addiction, reward systems, addiction models, neurobiology of addiction

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Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update

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