Problem gamblers’ brains have difficulty anticipating rewards

[LilianInThaHouse]

Hello everyone and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

I found this article very interesting and I decided to share with you what they find out in this research.

 

New brain research shows that the brains of problem gamblers have more difficulty than non-addicts in anticipating monetary rewards.

 

On Wednesday, JAMA Psychiatry published the findings of researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands who analyzed 25 neuroimaging studies involving brain reward sensitivity of over 1,200 participants, about half of whom were addicted to either gambling or substances (coke, smack, weed, alcohol, nicotine, etc.) and the other half a control group of non-addicts.

 

The researchers set out to determine the nature and direction of “pathophysiologic reward-processing disruptions in the brain during anticipation and outcome notification of monetary rewards.”

 

The addicts’ brains showed decreased activation in the striatum – a core region of the brain’s reward circuit – during reward anticipation when compared to the non-addicts. Radboud researcher Arnt Schellekens said this suggested the addicts “did not expect much from the reward.”

 

But the results were mixed when it came to the reward outcome phase, as the substance abusers showed increased activation in the ventral striatum compared to the control group, while the problem gamblers’ brains continued to show decreased activation.

 

Schellekens said the substance abusers’ increased response during the reward outcome phase, which is “often interpreted as increased surprise to the reward, could actually follow from low expectations.” Researchers didn’t have an easy answer for why the gamblers didn’t share these low expectations.

 

Reward stimuli play a major role in learning behavior, and the researchers believe addicts have problems learning when to expect a reward, which could be why they find it hard choosing not to abuse drugs or gamble. Researchers hope to determine if psychological treatment or medication may be employed to influence these learning processes.

 

There’s been no shortage of research showing that the brains of problem gamblers are simply wired differently than individuals who don’t have difficulty keeping their betting behavior in check, which could explain why problem gambling prevalence has remained more or less constant – or even decreased – despite a dramatic rise in the availability of gambling options over the past couple decades.

 

Previous studies have shown that gamblers’ brains react to gambling stimuli similar to drug addicts experiencing cravings, produce less endorphins and are more prone to cognitive distortions. Problem gamblers are also far more likely to abuse substances and are 8x more likely to have a relative who shares their inability to control their behavior.

 

Source:http://calvinayre.com/2017/02/03/business/problem-gamblers-difficulty-anticipating-rewards/

[Afi4wins]

Well, I hope these researchers would have a successful progress in coming up with the correct medication for addicted gamblers.

 

A pill a day keeps the gambling away...hmm...how nice! 

[MacdoniS]

 Interesting research, but we're far more studying the human brain because the decade data were falsified the reason was the bug from the computer studying the human brain. Research like this needs the intervention of that data it's more like the research was based as behaviorism. 

[LeoDubbed]

Only €20.000.000 can cure me!

[Afi4wins]

Only €20.000.000 can cure me!

 

NAAAAH! 20 million Euros will be all gone within 5 to 10 years...

so better make it 200 million Euros to last your lifetime! 

[LeoDubbed]

NAAAAH! 20 million Euros will be all gone within 5 to 10 years...

so better make it 200 million Euros to last your lifetime! 

200.000.000 won't fit in my pocket.

[cocopop3011]

I doubt I'd play again if I ever won over a million so that would be my cure.

[Afi4wins]

I doubt I'd play again if I ever won over a million so that would be my cure.

 

And I doubt if I can ever stay away from slots if I win 1 million EUR!

Heck, I even doubt if I can stay away if I win 10 million EUR...I'd be bored to death not paying slots!!! 

 

Hmm...go travel around the world, you say?

Why, yes...that would be great, then I can start looking for the nearest casino in every city... 

 

Nope...I'm not an addict...the addict told me so. All I wanna do is to have lots of fun! 

[Afi4wins]

200.000.000 won't fit in my pocket.

 

You can always use mine...I've got plenty more empty pockets! 

[Raptordinos]

You can always use mine...I've got plenty more empty pockets! 

   

[LeoDubbed]

You can always use mine...I've got plenty more empty pockets! 

Plenty empty huh?! better check for holes before putting some money in there

[Afi4wins]

Plenty empty huh?! better check for holes before putting some money in there

 

Holes in my pockets? 

 

Well...errr...yes...there are holes in my pockets...big ones too...but no needle and thread to sew them up. 

But put a million Euros in them and they'll even have vault-type combination keys to open them! 

[LilianInThaHouse]

Well, I hope these researchers would have a successful progress in coming up with the correct medication for addicted gamblers.

 

A pill a day keeps the gambling away...hmm...how nice! 

Hahahah, you made my day Afi. As for pill, I doubt its possible to make one of these.

 

And on the other hand, that wouldn't be profitable.

[LilianInThaHouse]

 Interesting research, but we're far more studying the human brain because the decade data were falsified the reason was the bug from the computer studying the human brain. Research like this needs the intervention of that data it's more like the research was based as behaviorism. 

Dear Macdonis, I had problems with 'addiction' myself. When I come across this article I read it and wanted to share and hear your opinion.

 

I think each person is universe itself and its not possible to make conclusions out of someones behaviour. As for me.. I am wondering what research conclusion would be made.

 

At some point I stepped in 'my world' and then I started playing like crazy.

Gambling was my pleasure... that what I thought but I kept gambling and loosing without withdrawals and I realized sometimes last year,that I am having serious problem.

 

I am happy that I can play like a 'normal' person now. I can enjoy and have fun hoping I will never cross the line again

[LilianInThaHouse]

Only €20.000.000 can cure me!

Ah Leo I just spotted your reply. Your super funny. That ammount would cure and heal most of my problems..  you could share some buck with me if you manage to make this happen

[cocopop3011]

 

Dear Macdonis, I had problems with 'addiction' myself. When I come across this article I read it and wanted to share and hear your opinion.

 

I think each person is universe itself and its not possible to make conclusions out of someones behaviour. As for me.. I am wondering what research conclusion would be made.

 

At some point I stepped in 'my world' and then I started playing like crazy.

Gambling was my pleasure... that what I thought but I kept gambling and loosing without withdrawals and I realized sometimes last year,that I am having serious problem.

 

I am happy that I can play like a 'normal' person now. I can enjoy and have fun hoping I will never cross the line again

 

 

That's awesome to hear those words at the end of your post Lilian. It sure is a dark place to be and I couldn't be happier to hear you are now back in control.

[MacdoniS]

 

Dear Macdonis, I had problems with 'addiction' myself. When I come across this article I read it and wanted to share and hear your opinion.

 

I think each person is universe itself and its not possible to make conclusions out of someones behaviour. As for me.. I am wondering what research conclusion would be made.

 

At some point I stepped in 'my world' and then I started playing like crazy.

Gambling was my pleasure... that what I thought but I kept gambling and loosing without withdrawals and I realized sometimes last year,that I am having serious problem.

 

I am happy that I can play like a 'normal' person now. I can enjoy and have fun hoping I will never cross the line again

 

 Sorry to hear that Lilian, I didn't mean to hurt and share my point of view. I know that everyone was suffering from a addiction that one can't understand if he/she didn't yet experience it but the fact that we have a Psychiatrist or other mentors from mental health is helpful. I know this because I already suffer from depression and not just by gambling addiction. I'm glad that you're now living peacefully that you know your limitations.  

[Afi4wins]

 

Hahahah, you made my day Afi. As for pill, I doubt its possible to make one of these.

 

And on the other hand, that wouldn't be profitable.

 

 

Lilian darling, where progress in modern technology goes, nothing is impossible...well, almost. 

 

Look at time travel...nobody believed that it would be possible...but science has done this...although it took the specimen back in time to just a few milliseconds, or something like that. Then there are also lots of pictures and videos of people appearing in times when they shouldn't be...the time travellers. And there are also people claiming that the US government has been hiding secrets about their time travelling machine that had successfully sent people back in time...like in the videos I mentioned earlier. One member of the secret government team made an exposure of this time travelling machine on video...believe it or not!

 

So...a pill to take away the gambling addiction may indeed be possible one day! But then again, as modern medication goes, there'll come a time when those cured gambling addicts may need another pill to cure the no-gambling pill addiction! Hahaha.

 

In modern-day medication, you take 1 pill to cure 1 illness...but that pill would create 1 new strain...so you'll need another 1 new pill to cure that new strain...and this vicious circle goes around and around...keeping the pharmaceutical companies very much in good profit and getting more prosperous year by year!!! Think about this! Hehehe. 

 

Makes you wonder if all these medication is really to cure people of their sickness...or more for the prosperity of the pharmaceutical companies! 

 

A good example...Viagra for Erectile Dysfunction...works wonderfully for sufferers...but can kill the users too! Pain Killers that are so strong, even many times more stronger than heroin itself (the strongest pain killer from natural plant), that can remove even the strongest pain, but killed the legendary singer Prince! 

 

Would you want to live the rest of your life depending on 'medication' to lead a normal life? Not for me, thank you! 

[ValDes]

Thanks for sharing the article and for revealing your soul as well.

 

I guess 99.99% of the folks here have already been, are or soon will be in your shoes, admitting and starting to fight even the tiniest sign of problematic gambling. Once you did the first step with realizing, accepting and processing the truth then you are on the right path and I have no doubts you will have no future problems putting your gambling into control. Well ,most of the times of course.  

 

Respect for your courage and honesty though, hats off!