Psychopharmacologie (Berl). 2015 Jun 20.
Janssen LK1, Sescousse G, Hashemi MM, Timmer MH, Ter Huurne NP, Geurts DE, Cools R.
mythologesch
RATIONALE:
Pathological gambling has been associated with dopamine transmission abnormalities, in particular dopamine D2-receptor deficiency, and reversal learning deficits. Moreover, pervasive theoretical accounts suggest a key role for dopamine in reversal learning. However, there is no empirical evidence for a direct link between dopamine, reversal learning and pathological gambling.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of the present study is to triangulate dopamine, reversal learning, and pathological gambling.
METHODS:
Here, we assess the hypothesis that pathological gambling is accompanied by dopamine-related problems with learning from reward and punishment by investigating effects of the dopamine D2-receptor antagonist sulpiride (400 mg) on reward- and punishment-based reversal learning in 18 pathological gamblers and 22 healthy controls, using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, counter-balanced design.
RESULTATER:
In line with previous studies, blockade of D2 receptors with sulpiride impaired reward versus punishment reversal learning in controls. By contrast, sulpiride did not have any outcome-specific effects in gamblers.
Conclusioun:
These data demonstrate that pathological gambling is associated with a dopamine-related anomaly in reversal learning from reward and punishment.
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