This post covers sensitization which explains cravings, relapses, and why you can get harder and more excited for porn than a real partner.
It's really hard to get erections when I'm trying to [have intercourse]. Takes about 20 minutes or so to get it up. Really embarrassing. But if I'm sitting and watching my pornz, it's almost instant.—Porn user in his 20s
COMMENTS: One of several new studies indicating brain changes mimicking those found in drug addicts. Study does not say what type of internet addiction it measured. Was it all encompassing Internet addiction, including porn, or was it only Internet video games?
Enhanced Reward Sensitivity and Decreased Loss Sensitivity in Internet Addicts: An fMRI Study During a Guessing Task.
J Psychiatr Res. 2011 Jul 16.
Dong G, Huang J, Du X.
Source
Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, PR China.