Biological Explanations for Gambling - Addiction Flashcards

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1
Q

How can neurotransmitters explain initiation?

A
  • Gamblers have lower levels of noradrenaline
  • Due to having such low levels gamblers take up gambling to make up for this
  • Studies have found that noradrenaline + adrenaline levels increase when gamblers play
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2
Q

How does Meyera’s study help to explain imitation?

A

Studied 14 male problem gamblers and 15 non problem gamblers:
- When playing blackjack noradrenaline levels increased in both groups but problem gamblers showed significantly higher levels
= shows they may have low levels which is why they increase more as only get this feeling from gambling

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3
Q

How can neurotransmitters explain maintenance?

A
  • Gambling causes you to feel extremely high due to high levels of dopamine
    = creates an insensitivity to dopamine which makes you feel low
  • Addicts keep up gambling to feel ‘normal’
  • For gamblers exposure to gambling related audio and visual stimuli can create arousal causing them to seek more optimum levels of dopamine
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4
Q

How does Meyera’s study help to explain maintenance?

A

Dopamine levels were significantly higher in problem gamblers when playing
= get more of a reward than no problem gamblers + perhaps no other activity can successfully raise dopamine as they have become insensitive

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5
Q

How can neurotransmitters explain relapse?

A
  • Gamblers often miss the psychological/physiological rewards of stress reduction and excitement causing them to seek this when they feel low
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6
Q

How can Meyera’s study help to explain relapse?

A

The high levels of both noradrenaline and dopamine shows how problem gamblers may miss them

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7
Q

What did other evidence show about the neurotransmitter levels of different types of gamblers?

A

Horserace addicts had significantly lower baseline levels as compared to poker machine platers and controls
= smaller bet size on poker machines causes less of a response

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