Rats offer understanding of gambling addiction

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by Change | 18 Jun 2009

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New research involving rats has shed some light on the way in which gambling addictions work and could help in the development of future addiction treatment.

Experts from the Cambridge University and the University of British Columbia have uncovered more information about the way in which gambling addictions can be formed, in a move that could lead to new addiction treatment being developed.

The researchers found that rats are capable of developing strategies to play the odds in a gambling task involving food.

In the study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, many rodents would regularly avoid choosing high-reward options because these would also carry the greatest risk of punishment.

It is hoped the research can go some way to developing new approaches to tackle gambling addictions, which could be used by rehab clinics as part of their therapy to help residents.

"Not only have we seen that our rats will gamble, but we've also been able to modulate that behaviour," lead author Catharine Winstanley, from the University of British Columbia, told the BBC.

"This coincides with data we've seen from pathological gamblers, who have been shown to have lower levels of serotonin in their brains," she explained.

rehab centres often use a variety of methods at their disposal to provide tailored programmes designed to fit the specific needs of their patients.

The Desert Oasis recovery centre in Albuquerque has recently started using auricular "accu-detox" acupuncture to help relax patients and reduce their cravings.

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