New studies done during drug use and when viewing porn have revealed that similar brain activity is triggered during both activities. More formally known as compulsive sexual behavior, sex addiction highlights some of the same areas of the brain that drug addiction does.
The new study was recently published in the journal PLOS ONE, and outlines the research done at the University of Cambridge's department of psychiatry. 38 men, half of which show signs of compulsive sexual behavior, were asked to watch either porn or sports while researchers monitored their brain activity and reactions, reports TIME.
The magnetic resonance imaging revealed that three regions of the brain were more active with those showing compulsive sexual behavior, and the same areas would light up similarly when showing drug addicts the drug of their choice.
Researchers hope that the results will add to what little research surrounding sex addiction, reports Fox News. “It’s not that the disorder doesn't exist," says Dr. Valerie Voon, a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow at the university. "It’s more that there are not enough studies to classify it and categorize it. In order for disorders to be recognized, they need more studies in multiple realms... like this current one."