The Great Porn Experiment: Gary Wilson at TEDxGlasgow

In response to Philip Zimbardo's "The Demise of Guys?" TED talk, Gary Wilson asks whether our brains evolved to handle the hyperstimulation of today's Internet enticements. He also discusses the disturbing symptoms showing up in some heavy Internet users, the surprising reversal of those symptoms, and the science behind these 21st century phenomena.

More About Gary Wilson

Gary is host of www.yourbrainonporn.com. The site arose in response to a growing demand for solid scientific information by heavy Internet erotica users experiencing perplexing, unexpected effects: escalation to more extreme material, concentration difficulties, sexual performance problems, radical changes in sexual tastes, social anxiety, irritability, inability to stop, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

As a physiology teacher with a particular interest in the latest neuroscience discoveries, Gary was aware that their symptoms might be the result of addiction-related brain changes. Applying the website's concepts of brain plasticity, many former users have braved withdrawal, reversed their symptoms and restored normal sexual responsiveness.

The site has been linked to from hundreds of threads in forums from over thirty countries, with posts numbering in the thousands. Gary blogs for "Psychology Today" and "The Good Men Project" on the extreme plasticity of adolescent brains, the evolutionary context for today's flood of novel cyber "mates," and the neurochemical reasons why superstimulating Internet delivery has unexpected effects on the brain.

Many thanks to Pat Somers of Slow Moving Pictures for the skillful editing of this video.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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[rocknroll19842]

I am now on day 141 without porn..... Get on it guys, you won't be disappointed.

[alablama]

GAME CHANGER RIGHT HERE FOLKS

[Gawdem Batmehn]

I'm on hour 8, wait nope back to 0

[craig557]

This guy is seriously on to something... Internet porn is and has affected and interfered with my work, relationships, and possibly cognition. For me, it fits every possible definition of addictive behavior-and I am not religious or motivated thereby. I can plot the increasing need for novelty with years behind the keyboard-ever since internet came to fore. It is, in this sense, the Dark-Side of sex. Novelty! UN-LIM-IT-ED NOVELTY! Addictive, artificial, time-consuming, mind-altering.

[t4tchk0ma]

What if you're addicted to fapping without porn? I never watch porn.

[rocknroll19842]

Too many to list. I think it is important to not overly state the benefits, because I wouldn't want anyone to be searching for specific results. I will say that doing this has improved my life for the positive in many different aspects.

Get on it boys, it will change your life for the better, I promise.

[Nathan Maxtro]

How about a study on guys who have been watching lots of porn and then recently started having sex?

[Jake Salazar]

What's so "Pseudoscience quackery" about it? It's simple, porn stimulates you, you get addicted, and symptoms occur.

[ThePunjabdholi123456]

congrats ! what are the benefits for you personally?



[Heinz Hörst]

Remember kids, masturbation makes you go blind and grow fur on your hands!

[Echo McChamber]

Pseudoscience quackery.

None of this is based on science, this isn't in ANY medical journals for a reason. This man is quoting Simon Lajeunesse who has a PHD in Social Work (REALLY? AHAHA).

I bet you guys believe in quack stuff like Adrenal Fatigue, Fan Death and Loss of Essence too, this entire talk is BS with minor truths mixed in (abstinence increasing libido, OMG It's a miracle!)

Don't believe everything you hear, TEDx is notorious for this garbage fringe theory crap.