N.B.: Different languages can express
different contents - (Italiano English)
Flashing lights and music turn rats into problem gamblers (2016-02-09)
Adding flashing lights and music to gambling
encourages risky decision-making even if you’re a
rat.
In research published today in the Journal of
Neuroscience, scientists at UBC discovered rats
behaved like problem gamblers when sound and light
cues were added to a “rat casino” model. What’s
more, the researchers were able to correct the
behaviour by blocking the action of a specific
dopamine receptor, laying the groundwork for
possible treatment of gambling addiction in humans.
The rats, who gambled for sugary treats, normally
learn how to avoid the risky options. But that all
changed when the scientists added flashing lights
and sounds.
“It seemed, at the time, like a stupid thing to do,
because it didn’t seem like adding lights and sound
would have much of an impact. But when we ran the
study, the effect was enormous,” said Catharine
Winstanley, associate professor in the Department of
Psychology and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for
Brain Health. “Anyone who’s ever designed a casino
game or played a gambling game will tell you that of
course sound and light cues keep you more engaged,
but now we can show it scientifically.”.
When the scientists gave the rats a drug that
blocked the action of a specific dopamine receptor
that has been linked to addiction, the rats no
longer acted like problem gamblers.
But the dopamine blockers had minimal effect on rats
who gambled without the flashing lights and sound
cues.
“This brain receptor is also really important to
drug addiction, so our findings help support the
idea that risky behaviour across different vices
might have a common biological cause,” said lead
author Michael Barrus, a PhD candidate in the UBC
Department of Psychology.
“I often feel that scientific models are decades
behind the casinos,” added Winstanley. “I don’t
think it’s an accident that casinos are filled with
lights and noise.”
For more information
The Journal of Neuroscience
Dopamine D3 receptors modulate the ability of
win-paired cues to increase risky choice in a rat
gambling task Link...