Abstinence from chronic cocaine self administration alters striatal dopamine systems in rhesus monkeys. (2009)

Study of other addictions may suggest how long the most severe effects of porn addiction lastCOMMENTS: One of the few studies that covers how abstinence affects the levels of dopamine receptors.
Highlights:
– D2 receptors bounce back fairly quickly – less than a month
– D1 receptors are way too high at a month, but bounce back within 90 days.
– High or low D1 receptors may be keys to acute withdrawal and cravings

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Discussion of Prostate Research

Scientists have actually measured many separate factors and their relationship to prostate cancer: wanker’s crampejaculation, intercourse frequency, marital status, number of sex partners, and cases of sexually transmitted disease. So far, study results conflict with each other on almost every factor, and the medical profession does not consider ejaculation frequency (or infrequency) to be risk factor for prostate cancer.

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Weight Gain Is Associated with Reduced Striatal Response to Palatable Food (2010) HUMANS

Comment: Study demonstrates in humans that food – a natural reinforcer – can cause a decline in dopamine receptors. Is Internet porn less stimulating than “highly palatable” food? Dopamine receptors in the striatum are probably related to porn addiction

LAY ARTICLE: Research Examines Vicious Cycle of Overeating and Obesity (abstract below)

Released: 9/29/2010 4:30 PM EDT
Source: University of Texas at Austin

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Dopamine D2 receptors in addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats (2010)

Comment: This study demonstrates that when an animal is given unlimited access, a strong natural reinforcer (very stimulating food) can cause a decline in D2 receptors. This decline was seen in nearly all rats, and occurred quite rapidly. When “highly palatable” food was removed, the rats refused to eat normal chow. The rats continued to […]

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(L) Delta-FosB Low in Depression, Protects Mice From Stress (2010)

Targeting Gene Regulator in Brain Reward Circuit Eyed as Treatment
Gene regulation may be relevant to porn addiction
Scientists have discovered a mechanism that helps to explain resilience to stress, vulnerability to depression and how antidepressants work. The new findings, in the reward circuit of mouse and human brains, have spurred a high tech dragnet for compounds that boost the action of a key gene regulator there, called deltaFosB.
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(L) Volkow May Have Uncovered Answer to Addiction Riddle (2004)

This covers a lot of the basics on dopamine (D2) receptors and addiction.

Volkow May Have Uncovered Answer to Addiction Riddle
Psychiatric News June 4, 2004
Volume 39 Number 11 Page 32

Jim Rosack

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/39/11/32.full

Addictive disorders may be a “shift in the salience meter” in which normal stimuli are no longer recognized as salient, yet the effects of drugs of abuse on the brain’s dopamine system are highly salient, NIDA’s director believes.

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