S51.04 - Neurophysiological and neuropsychiatric aspects of pathological gambling

Abstract

We will provide a general overview on neurophysiological aspects of pathological gambling, a form of nonsubstance addiction, including evidence that dopamine neurons of the ventral midbrain are activated by reward uncertainity. Dopamine in the state of excessive gambling may reinforce its addictive properties.

In addition, we will present neuropsychological evidence demonstrating that pathological gambling is related to a deficit in impulse control associated with attention deficit that impairs concentration, executive functions, and especially memory. The relationship between anxiety and selective disturbances in the visuo-spatial memory will finally be considered under the point of view of the cognitive competition hypothesis.

Further, we will present our actual project in which we investigate whether these pathological gambling-related deficits will have an influence on spatial memorization capacities as a function of anticipated reward.