Tens of millions of Americans engage in a taboo habit that scientists have warned could pose risks to cognitive health.
A recent study found that regularly viewing pornography can immediately reduce a person’s performance on tasks requiring attention and cognitive control right after exposure to explicit content.
Impaired executive function and reduced cognitive performance are known early markers of cognitive decline, a precursor to dementia.
Research has suggested that if such effects are sustained or repeated over time, they could potentially contribute to long-term health risks.
In the study, college students watched a 10-minute internet pornographic video chosen for its high viewership.
Before and after viewing, they completed a test that measures focus and attention control by requiring them to name the ink color of a word, even when the word spells out a different color, along with three psychological questionnaires.
Scientists observed that after watching pornography, participants had significantly slower reaction times and made more errors on the test compared to their performance before viewing.
Additionally, the brain activity patterns seen in these students resembled those found in individuals with drug addiction and schizophrenia.
Approximately 69 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the U.S. view online pornography each year.
Among young adults aged 18 to 25, 57 percent report using porn monthly or more often, compared to 29 percent of those aged 25 and older.
Porn addiction is more prevalent among men, with 11 percent reporting having the issue.
The study was conducted by scientists from Chengdu Medical College in China, who recruited 16 healthy college students and five college students with severe internet pornography addiction.
Participants completed the test, watched the 10-minute pornography video, and then did the test again, while scientists monitored their brain activity.
Each group completed 18 rounds of the test, with each round lasting two seconds.
The results revealed clear differences between the two groups.
Low-frequency users demonstrated stronger connectivity in brain regions involved in language processing, movement coordination and sensory input.
While the high-frequency users showed increased connectivity in areas associated with executive functions, which are commonly linked to addiction and emotional regulation.
This suggests that frequent pornography consumption may produce neural and behavioral effects similar to other types of addiction.
However, the team noted that the low-frequency group also showed slower accuracy and increased reaction while taking the test.
Those findings suggest that even if people viewing porn sporadically, they will still experience cognitive effects.
The study also examined emotional responses during viewing.
Participants who watched pornography less frequently displayed a wider range of emotions, such as surprise, fear, and disgust, while frequent viewers showed more muted or neutral facial expressions.
This supports the idea that repeated exposure to explicit content may dull emotional sensitivity over time.
In addition to cognitive effects, the high-frequency group scored significantly higher on anxiety and depression questionnaires.
Although the study does not establish whether pornography use causes these symptoms or if they arise from other factors, the results align with earlier research connecting heavy pornography consumption to increased emotional distress.
‘The effects of internet pornography addiction on brain functional connectivity in the prefrontal lobe exhibit characteristics similar to those of drug addiction,’ the researchers concluded.
‘Moreover, individuals who frequently consume internet pornography report that they experience stronger sexual arousal and heightened pleasure while viewing, which subsequently adversely affects their cognition and emotions.’
A separate study, released in May 2024, evaluated thousands of adults across the world for ‘problematic pornography use,’
That was defined as watching enough pornography as hurting relationships and job performance, and found that three percent of people exhibited concerning usage, but less than one percent sought treatment.
Dr Beatha Bőthe, lead study author and psychologist at the University of Montreal, said: ‘Our research shows that the problematic pornography use may be more common than many might think and affects a wide range of people.
‘It highlights that while many are struggling, not many seek help. That’s important because it suggests that more work needs to be done to understand and support those who are affected by it.’
