Porn consumption vs grey matter in brain study

Kühn and Gallinat 2014.

(fyi, from my understanding, 'grey matter' refers to the brach-like parts of nerve cells, some of which are responsible for transferring dopamine between dopamine receptor cells. These branches or synapses decline with over consumption of pornography).

Note the negative correlation in the graph.

Figure caption:
Brain Regions and Pornography Consumption
A, Brain region showing a significant negative correlation (r64 = −0.432, P < .001) between hours of pornography consumption per week (square rooted) and gray matter volume (Montreal Neurological Institute coordinates: x = 11, y = 5, z = 3) and the scatterplot illustrating the correlation. B, Negative correlation between hours of pornography consumption per week and blood oxygenation level–dependent signal during sexual cue–reactivity paradigm (sex cue > fixation) (Montreal Neurological Institute coordinates: x = −24, y = 2, z = 4). C, Negative correlation between hours of pornography consumption per week and functional-connectivity map of the right striatum in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Extracted results and conclusion:
Results We found a significant negative association between reported pornography hours per week and gray matter volume in the right caudate (P < .001, corrected for multiple comparisons) as well as with functional activity during a sexual cue–reactivity paradigm in the left putamen (P < .001). Functional connectivity of the right caudate to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was negatively associated with hours of pornography consumption.

Conclusions and Relevance The negative association of self-reported pornography consumption with the right striatum (caudate) volume, left striatum (putamen) activation during cue reactivity, and lower functional connectivity of the right caudate to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex could reflect change in neural plasticity as a consequence of an intense stimulation of the reward system, together with a lower top-down modulation of prefrontal cortical areas. Alternatively, it could be a precondition that makes pornography consumption more rewarding.

link to paper:
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1874574

 

of course this is just one study. But still worth delving into.

 

mods why did you move this from the sexual dysfunctions forum? It's to do with loss of grey matter- the area of the brain where receptors are that control dopamine and give erections...