Psychopharmacology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Abnormal modulation of reward versus punishment learning by a dopamine D2-receptor antagonist in pathological gamblers.
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. ⋯ These data demonstrate that pathological gambling is associated with a dopamine-related anomaly in reversal learning from reward and punishment.