Not a Matter of Willpower: Gambling Disorder Tied to Brain Changes

A new doctoral study sheds light on what happens in the brains of people with gambling disorder, showing that the condition is tied to the very circuits that control self-control, decision-making, and reward. In other words, it’s not just a matter of willpower.  

Disrupted Connections in the Brain

The research, by Albert Bellmunt Gil of Finland’s University of Turku, brought together multiple brain imaging methods in an attempt to offer a more detailed look at the way gambling affects both the function and the structure of the brain. This approach was also aimed at finding better ways to treat the disorder that is considered more than just risky behavior. 

The disorder affects about 1% to 2% of adults worldwide and it has been officially recognized as the number one behavioral addiction in official diagnostic manuals due to its very close resemblance to substance addictions when it comes to brain mechanisms and clinical impact. 

People with the disorder struggle to control gambling, which can harm relationships, financial stability, and daily life.

Bellmunt Gil focused on the frontal lobe and striatum, which are two regions in the brain that play a crucial role in controlling impulses and processing rewards. 

Using two independent participant datasets, including individuals with gambling disorder and healthy controls, the research measured brain structure, activity, and chemical signaling to uncover differences.

The study found that people affected by gambling disorder show disrupted connections between the frontal cortex and subcortical regions, known as fronto-striatal circuits. 

Bellmunt Gil explained that connections “between the dorsolateral frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens”, which are the main brain reward nucleus, “were weaker than normal, which may make it harder to stop gambling once urges arise”.

Stronger Response to Gambling Cues

The research also revealed stronger brain responses to gambling-related cues in the dorsal striatum, which mimicked patterns observed in substance use disorders. 

Irregular fronto-striatal connectivity was also linked to serotonin signaling and opioid-related cue-reactivity, with structural changes in these circuits potentially making some individuals more prone to develop gambling disorder. The same changes in the brain could also be triggered by long-term gambling, the study concluded.

These interesting findings also hinted at potential treatment approaches, including non-invasive brain stimulation and other therapies targeting the brain regions mentioned by the researcher behind the study. In addition, medications aimed at serotonin and opioid systems might also prove helpful, though rigorous clinical trials are needed.