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Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
Imaging monetary reward in pathological gamblers
Eric Hollander1, Stefano Pallanti, Nicolò Baldini Rossi
1Department of Psychiatry, Box 1230, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. eric.hollander@mssm.edu
Summary
Pathological gamblers show increased brain metabolism in visual and prefrontal areas when playing blackjack for money versus points. This highlights the crucial role of monetary reward in gambling behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Pathological gambling is a complex behavioral addiction.
- Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying gambling is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurobiological differences in brain activity between gambling for monetary rewards and non-monetary rewards.
- To identify specific brain regions associated with the processing of monetary incentives in pathological gamblers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans on seven unmedicted pathological gamblers.
- Subjects performed a computer blackjack task under two conditions: monetary reward and computer game points only.
- Measured relative FDG metabolic rate in key brain regions including the prefrontal cortex, cingulate, striatum, and visual cortex.
Main Results:
- Monetary reward blackjack significantly increased relative metabolic rate in the primary visual cortex (Brodmann area 17), cingulate gyrus (Brodmann area 24), putamen, and prefrontal areas 47 and 10.
- No tested brain region showed a significant decrease in metabolic rate during the monetary reward condition.
- This pattern indicates heightened limbic and sensory activation when gambling for money.
Conclusions:
- Monetary reward significantly influences brain activation patterns in pathological gamblers.
- Increased emotional valence, risk, and reward associated with monetary incentives appear to drive gambling behavior.
- The findings underscore the salience of monetary reward in the development and maintenance of pathological gambling.
