The influence of stress on the processing of visual sexual stimuli (VSS) in men in relation to habitual VSS-consumption

有许多迹象表明，色情消费已经达到了一个新的层面，由于容易通过互联网访问。虽然大多数男性报告说他们的vss消费没有问题，但有些人在他们的消费历史中经历了失控。尽管有严重的负面后果（例如，职业和关系问题、抑郁），这些人似乎无法持久地减少vss的消费。一些研究人员将这些症状解释为行为成瘾。药物成瘾研究的结果表明，压力和增强成瘾行为以及复发之间存在关联，可能是由应激激素皮质醇和多巴胺能奖励系统之间的相互作用介导的。男性之间的vss消费习惯（vss消费强度）差异很大。目前还不清楚哪些人格特征可以预测vss消费强度，以及vss消费强度的增加是否与vss加工的改变有关。根据Robinson和Berridge（1993）建立的神经生物学成瘾激励-敏感化理论，vss加工的改变是可以预期的。迄今为止，研究压力和vss消耗强度对vss加工的影响的研究很少，而且迄今为止显示的结果不一致。本研究计划研究(1)压力、(2)个体vss消费强度和(3)压力与vss消费强度的交互作用对男性vss加工的影响。在受试者之间的设计中，一半的参与者将接受压力测试，这将可靠地导致皮质醇的释放。另一半将通过控制条件，没有预期的皮质醇释放。这两个组由四个不同的vss消耗强度（非常低、低、高、非常高）的子组组成。在计划实验中，vss预期阶段和vss消耗阶段将交替进行。对于不同的阶段，预计应力和vss消耗强度的影响是不同的。除了fMRI数据外，还将收集体液、形态测量、连通性、外周生理、行为和主观数据。此外，人格特质、VSS消费动机和精神病理症状将通过问卷进行评估。这些数据为应力和vss消耗强度对vss加工影响的中介和调节分析提供了重要的数据基础。这将导致对涉及VSS过度和失控消费行为发展的关键因素的可测试假设。

There are numerous indications that pornography consumption has reached a new dimension due to easy access via the internet. While most men report no problems concerning their VSS-consumption, some experience a loss of control in the course of their consumption history. Despite seriously negative consequences (e.g., occupational and relationship problems, depression), these men seem to be unable to achieve a lasting reduction of their VSS-consumption. Some researchers interpret these symptoms in terms of a behavioral addiction. Results from drug addiction research point to an association between stress and augmented addiction behavior as well as relapses, potentially mediated by an interaction between the stress hormone cortisol and the dopaminergic reward system. Habitual VSS-consumption (VSS-consumption-intensity) considerably differs between men. It is widely unknown which personality traits are predictive for VSS-consumption-intensity and whether increasing VSS-consumption-intensity is associated with altered VSS-processing. Altered VSS-processing would be expected given the the well-established neurobiological incentive-sensitization theory of addiction by Robinson and Berridge (1993). To date, studies investigating the impact of stress and VSS-consumption-intensity on VSS-processing are rare and have so far revealed inconsistent results.For the proposed research project, it is planned to investigate the impact of (1) stress, (2) individual VSS-consumption-intensities and (3) the stress x VSS-consumption-intensity interaction on VSS-processing in men. In a between subject design, half of the participants will undergo a stress test, which reliably results in cortisol release. The other half will pass a control condition without an expected cortisol release. Both groups consist of four subgroups with different (very low, low, high, very high) VSS-consumption-intensities. In the planned experiment, VSS-anticipation and VSS-consumption phases will alternate. For the different phases, a different impact of stress and VSS-consumption-intensity is expected. Beside fMRI data, humoral, morphometric, connectivity, peripher-physiological, behavioral, and subjective data will be collected. Further, personality traits, VSS consumption motives as well as psychopathological symptoms will be assessed by questionnaires. These data offer a remarkable data basis for mediator and moderator analyses concerning the impact of stress and VSS-consumption-intensity on VSS-processing. This will result in testable hypotheses of critical factors involved in the development of excessive and out-of-control consumption behavior with regard to VSS.