Quote:
Originally Posted by DuckSauce
I'm going through epl withdrawal. Mls and Euro qualifier gambling will have to do to satisfy my dfs itch.
Lol whoever thinks gambling isn't a drug :/. Thank god I'm good at it!
Look, it's pretty solved. The Nucleus accumbens ramps up in activity in both pathological gamblers and non-gamblers when a 'win' occurs, but the size of the activation, especially in the reward center (VTA) of the gamblers is quite a bit numbed compared to non-gamblers
There is direct evidence that the VTA, Nucleus Accumbens, experience sensitization to gambling in gamblers, which is similar to what is seen in drug addicts. Of course with increased sensitivity comes cravings.
Now, the second aspect of drug addiction - huge dopamine burts - do they exist in gamblers?
Answer is not so straightforward. Some neural evidence has come from people suffering from parkinson's disease but it's not possible to see release of dopamine in a fmri. It only shows regions of the brain getting washed with blood to indicate neural activity. Evidence is surely pointing to a positive hypothesis though.
Pathological gamblers also exhibit poor control of their pre-frontal cortex, and if I had to make a Model based on the evidence of your above post, frequent brags, obsession and explicit cravings, I'd say the Model would suggest damage to your pre-frontal cortex is imminent.