Abstract | 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: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION:
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Authors | Lieneke Katharina Janssen, Guillaume Sescousse, Mahur Melina Hashemi, Monique Harmina Maria Timmer, Niels Peter ter Huurne, Dirk Everdina Maria Geurts, Roshan Cools |
Journal | Psychopharmacology
(Psychopharmacology (Berl))
Vol. 232
Issue 18
Pg. 3345-53
(Sep 2015)
ISSN: 1432-2072 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 26092311
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Dopamine Antagonists
- Receptors, Dopamine D2
- Sulpiride
- Dopamine
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Topics |
- Adult
- Case-Control Studies
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dopamine
(metabolism)
- Dopamine Antagonists
(pharmacology)
- Double-Blind Method
- Gambling
(metabolism, psychology)
- Humans
- Male
- Punishment
(psychology)
- Receptors, Dopamine D2
(metabolism)
- Reversal Learning
(drug effects, physiology)
- Reward
- Sulpiride
(pharmacology)
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