A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Mesolimbic dopamine release is linked to symptom severity in pathological gambling
Authors: Joutsa J, Johansson J, Niemela S, Ollikainen A, Hirvonen MM, Piepponen P, Arponen E, Alho H, Voon V, Rinne JO, Hietala J, Kaasinen V
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Publication year: 2012
Journal: NeuroImage
Journal name in source: NEUROIMAGE
Journal acronym: NEUROIMAGE
Number in series: 4
Volume: 60
Issue: 4
First page : 1992
Last page: 1999
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 1053-8119
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.02.006
Abstract
Conclusions: Striatal dopamine is released during gambling irrespective of gambling outcome suggesting that the mere expectation/prediction of reward is sufficient to induce dopaminergic changes. Although dopamine release during slot machine gambling is comparable between healthy controls and pathological gamblers, greater gambling symptom severity is associated with greater dopaminergic responses. Thus, as the dopamine reward deficiency theory predicts blunted mesolimbic dopamine responses to gambling in addicted individuals, our results question the validity of the reward deficiency hypothesis in pathological gambling. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conclusions: Striatal dopamine is released during gambling irrespective of gambling outcome suggesting that the mere expectation/prediction of reward is sufficient to induce dopaminergic changes. Although dopamine release during slot machine gambling is comparable between healthy controls and pathological gamblers, greater gambling symptom severity is associated with greater dopaminergic responses. Thus, as the dopamine reward deficiency theory predicts blunted mesolimbic dopamine responses to gambling in addicted individuals, our results question the validity of the reward deficiency hypothesis in pathological gambling. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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