Pornography Addiction and Memory Loss: Is There A Connection?

Problems making choices as well as trouble remembering things and concentrating to finish tasks could be linked to pornography addiction, suggests recent research.

In a recent study, men were presented a series of pictures on a computer screen, some without sexual material and some that were of pornography. They were then asked questions about the images, and gave more incorrect answers when asked about the images that contained sexual material.

Their levels of incorrect responses were 13 percent higher when they viewed the sexual images, as compared to the images that were not pornographic.

Results from the study have been published in Sex Research, and may lead to further studies about the ways sexual stimulation could impact thought processes. Other research studies have shown that sexual imagery may impact cognitive thought patterns in other ways, such as creating more objectified views of women as sex objects for men, and impacting the way girls’ think of their bodies as objects for sex.

Because teen brains are still developing, they are especially vulnerable. Further research could explore the ways viewing pornography online impacts thoughts and views about sex and relationships for teens into adulthood.

It is believed that at least six percent of total online searches are for sexual content, and that the average age preteen’s views pornography online is age ten. Both sexual addiction and pornography addiction are progressive and require professional help for recovery. Increasing numbers of treatment centers specializing in sexual addiction and pornography addiction for both teens and adults are found nationwide.