Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Does Sexual Arousal Outside Marriage Damage the Brain?

Does Sexual Arousal Outside Marriage Damage the Brain?

Recently, at our church, we were blessed with a lecture on 12 things that can damage the frontal lobe of the brain. These, according to the presenter, include lack of water, a raised CO2 level, poor blood flow, etc…

The one that got me thinking was about sexual arousal outside of marriage as a “hit” on the frontal lobe.

This triggered a memory where you mentioned something along these lines in one of your Bible studies a while back. I have no idea which study it was, but would appreciate it if you could shed some light on this, please.

My question would be – how can sexual arousal outside a normal monogamous MARRIAGE relationship specifically damage our brains? Is the sexual act and “just fantasizing” equally destructive?

Thank you, and may God continue to bless you and those you care about.


Our brains are marvelously complex organs with the capacity to change and rewire based on experience and the choices we make. Over time our choices actually result in changing of our brain circuitry. God originally designed our brains to operate in a perfect balance with the “frontal lobes” in governance. But, since sin, this balance has been upset. The Bible tells us that we are tempted by our “desires” or feelings (James 1:13), which corresponds to a part of our brain called the limbic system. This part of our brain is often called the “primitive” brain and is the seat of lust, aggression, fear, and survival drives.

The “frontal lobe” is composed of various regions that are responsible for different functions. The outer prefrontal cortex, called the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), is where we reason, strategize, and plan. If you take your finger and touch the edge of your eyebrow closest to your ear and then move your finger straight up until you touch the natural hairline, the DLPFC lies beneath this point.

Beneath the DLPFC, right above the top of the eye socket, is the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), and adjacent to the OFC toward the midline behind your nose is the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). Current brain science implicates the OFC and VMPFC as the most likely site of the conscience. It is in the OFC and VMPFC where we experience the conviction of guilt, recognize socially inappropriate behavior, and from where the brain sends instructions to correct improper behavior.[ii][iii][iv][v]

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) – the part of the prefrontal cortex right between your eyes and slightly back from your forehead – is the neurological “heart.” It is in this region of the prefrontal cortex where we experience empathy, compassion, love, and where we choose the right from the wrong. The ACC is also the seat of the “will” the place where we choose the right from the wrong.

The DLPFC (reason) in combination with OFC and VMPFC (conscience) form the ability known as judgment. Interestingly, brain research has shown that when the VMPFC is active, the DLPFC is less active, and when the DLPFC is active, the VMPFC is less active. What this implies is that when our consciences are clear, we can reason and think more efficiently. But when we are involved in activities that violate God’s law of love, the conscience impairs strategizing and planning. In other words, we cannot think clearly when we are guilt ridden. In order for our judgment to work best, our consciences must be clear. This can only happen when we live in harmony with the law of love.

So what happens when we engage in sexual arousal outside of marriage? We activate limbic circuits, which the PFC must evaluate and the ACC must choose to deny or act upon. If we choose to act on these impulses (including in our imagination) it results in activation of the VMPFC and OFC which cause sense of guilt, this impairs DLPFC function and we don’t reason or think as well. The increased guilt activates the amygdala, which is the fear center, and this results in increased stress hormones and inflammatory factors being released. Additionally, the firing of the amygdala results in diminishment of ACC and DLPFC activity with impairments in the ability to love altruistically and think reasonably. The person becomes more self-focused, will rationalize, distort, and blame others. This causes further activation of limbic circuits and more damage to PFC circuits.

Sexual arousal, however, is not sin in itself – what is sin is the choice by the will (ACC) to say yes to the temptation brought about by the arousal. If the ACC instead says no and redirects the DLPFC to turn off the imagination and instead think wholesome thoughts no damage occurs, and instead the circuits of self-governance are strengthened.


Todd A. Hare, Colin F. Camerer, Antonio Rangel. Self-Control in Decision-Making Involves Modulation of the vmPFC Valuation System. Science, 1 May 2009: Vol. 324. no. 5927, pp. 646 – 648.

[ii]Heerkeren, Hauke R. et al., An fMRI study of simple ethical decision-making. Neuroreport. 2003 July;14(9):1215-19.

[iii] Samuel M. McClure, David I. Laibson, George Loewenstein, Jonathan D. Cohen. Separate Neural Systems Value Immediate and Delayed Monetary Rewards. Science 15 October 2004: Vol. 306. no. 5695, pp. 503 – 507.

[iv] Jorge Moll, Paul J. Eslinger, Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza. Frontopolar and Anterior Temporal Cortex Activation in a Moral Judgment Task: Preliminary functional MRI results in normal subjects. Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr.  vol.59 no.3B São Paulo Sept. 2001.

[v] Jorge Moll, Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza, Paul J. Eslinger, Ivanei E. Bramati, Janaína Mourão-Miranda, Pedro Angelo Andreiuolo, and Luiz Pessoa. The Neural Correlates of Imaging Investigation of Basic and Moral Emotions. The Journal of Neuroscience, April 1, 2002, 22(7):2730-2736.

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 12

I have been really blessed reading your response to the various questions on your site.

K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 76

Warm greetings from Tanzania! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your team at Come And Reason Ministries for the amazing work you do. Your teachings have opened my eyes to deep biblical truths and how to live them out in real life. I started following the ministry back in 2018, and ever since, my walk with God has grown so much stronger. I’ve found freedom from fear-based faith and now live with more peace and trust in Him. I’ve also been sharing what I’ve learned, especially through Bible School discussions. Your lessons are so insightful and well-explained that I try not to miss a single one. May God continue to bless the work you’re doing.
Elisha M., Tanzania, Africa

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana