Work

Reduced loss aversion in pathological gambling and alcohol dependence is associated with differential alterations in amygdala and prefrontal functioning

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling and alcohol dependence (AD) include repeated addictive behavior despite severe negative consequences. However, the concept of loss aversion (LA) as a facet of value-based decision making has not yet been used to directly compare these disorders. We hypothesized reduced LA in pathological gamblers (PG) and AD patients, correlation of LA with disorder severity, and reduced loss-related modulation of brain activity. 19 PG subjects, 15 AD patients and 17 healthy controls (HC) engaged in a LA task in a functional magnetic resonance imaging setting. Imaging analyses focused on neural gain and loss sensitivity in the meso-cortico-limbic network of the brain. Both PG and AD subjects showed reduced LA. AD subjects showed altered loss-related modulation of activity in lateral prefrontal regions. PG subjects showed indication of altered amygdala-prefrontal functional connectivity. Although we observed reduced LA in both a behavioral addiction and a substance-related disorder our neural findings might challenge the notion of complete neuro-behavioral congruence of substance-use disorders and behavioral addictions.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16433-y

Authors: Alexander Genauck, Saskia Quester, Torsten Wüstenberg, Chantal Mörsen, Andreas Heinz, Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth

Institutions: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Language: English

Topic: Gambling Behavior and Treatments

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690