title: Modulation of late positive potentials by sexual images in problem users and controls inconsistent with "porn addiction".
abstract: "Excessive" viewing of visual sexual stimuli (VSS) is the most commonly reported hypersexual behavior problem and is especially amenable to laboratory study. A pattern of enhanced sexual cue responsiveness is expected in this sample if hypersexuality shares features of other addiction models. Participants (N=122) who either reported or denied problematic VSS use were presented with emotional, including explicit sexual, images while their evoked response potentials were recorded. An interaction of hypersexual problem group and the level of desire for sex with a partner predicted LPP amplitude. Specifically, those reporting problems regulating their VSS use who also reported higher sexual desire had lower LPP in response to VSS. This pattern appears different from substance addiction models. These are the first functional physiological data of persons reporting VSS regulation problems.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: nprause@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prause
authors.affiliation: The Mind Research Network, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Vaughn R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staley
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sabatinelli
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hajcak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Addiction theory; Cue-reactivity; Hypersexuality; Late positive potential; Pornography “addiction”; Sexual desire