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. 2023 Jul 26:14:1191297.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1191297. eCollection 2023.

Decision making and executive functions in problematic pornography use

Silke M Müller  1   2 , Stephanie Antons  1   2
Affiliations

Decision making and executive functions in problematic pornography use

Silke M Müller et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Introduction: Previous research on cognitive functions in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) and problematic pornography use (PPU) reported inconsistent findings and mostly included sexual pictures in the used tasks. The role of general executive functions and cognitive competences (without the presence of appetitive stimuli) in the context of PPU is largely unexplored.

Methods: This study investigated differences between individuals with high versus low problem severity of PPU regarding decision making and executive functions. The sample of the laboratory study consisted of N = 102 male adults. Besides measures of trait impulsivity, we used standard neuropsychological tests (Trail Making Test and three-back working memory task) and an intertemporal risky choice paradigm, the Cards & Lottery Task (CLT).

Results: The results show heightened impulsivity (urgency and deficits in perseverance) in individuals with high PPU, but no differences regarding performance in the CLT and executive function tasks.

Discussion: The findings indicate that PPU might be associated with impulsive behavior when experiencing strong emotions (urgency) and deficient cognitive performance especially in the presence of sexual stimuli but not in general.

Keywords: cognition; cybersex; pornography use disorder; problematic usage of the internet; risky choice; sex addiction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Procedure of the laboratory study. Study parts relevant for the current analyses are written in bold.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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