Manning was careful to say that more research needs to be done into the effects of pornography on social relationships, and that cause-and-effect correlations often don't meet scientific review standards. However, she added, ongoing studies are finding a reappearing scientific link — people who have just viewed pornographic images and people who have just been given a powerful narcotic have similar brain chemistry profiles.

Manning also avoided the politically charged issue of what exactly pornography is and whether it is morally wrong.

"I'm not going to stand here and say all pornography is bad," Manning said. But, she added, even soft-core pornography can have devastating impacts on children, emphasizing that Internet porn is anything but soft porn and much of it is unequivocally illegal.

Although pornography means different things to different people, Manning said, the definitions of pornography and obscenity are already well-defined legally and that efforts need to be focused on tracking down those who target children and teenagers.

"We already have good laws on the books. What we need to emphasize is law enforcement," she said.

And there needs to be public pressure brought to bear on corporations such as the Marriott and other hotel and motel chains "in the thick" of the porn industry by offering hotel guests graphic materials on its pay movie channels.

Marriott corporate public relations did not return a telephone call seeking comment Tuesday evening.

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E-mail: spang@desnews.com