A Closer Understanding of Gambling Addiction.

For some of you, the following article may not come as a surprise:

Researchers, at one of the world’s leading universities, have discovered that the brains of gamblers with a propensity to addiction react more intensely to the near misses that are inherent in certain gambling games, such as bingo, than casual players. The study revealed that a near miss produced the reward hormone, neurotransmitter dopamine.

The study was carried out by researchers of The University of Cambridge, and could help addiction therapists understand the brain mechanisms that kept gamblers playing well beyond their means and even in the face of continual losses.

Research involved scanning the brains of 20 participants using an MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) as they were playing a computerised slot machine.

The participants were chosen for the study to reflect the average make-up of the general population of gamblers. The degree of gambling habits ranged from regular, social, and severe – the latter group being made-up of those with a serious gambling problem.

Dr Luke Clark of the University of Cambridge headed the study, which found that the parts of the brain that were activated during play were those that are involved in the brains reward pathways – known within the field of neurology as the dopamine centre. And, that these areas of the brain were additionally, more active in those with a moderate to serious gambling problem than any other group. 

The experiment consisted of participants playing with a computerised slot machine where a win was obtained when two symbols on a spinning reel matched-up. The prize of matching two symbols amounted to 50p.  

When neither symbol matched the bet was lost, but when the reels stopped spinning and a symbol matched one position away, then this was considered as a near miss.

The study also found that the near miss activated similar brain regions to an actual win, regardless of a reward being gained by the participant. It is this type of reaction that is enhanced in people with a gambling addiction, or symptoms of a gambling problem.

You can find this study in the Journal of Neuroscience if you are interested in learning more about the issue of problem gambling.

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