Biological factors related to pathological gambling have been studied by the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, implying that chemical dependence and gambling addiction are similar. Pathological gamblers have been found to have low levels of norepinephrine compared to “normal” gamblers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Alec Roy, MD, conducted a study at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and discovered that norepinephrine is secreted under the effect of stress, which constitutes pathological gamblers. for the underdosed. Continuously, Harvard Medical School's Addiction Division constructed an experiment in which participants faced a win, lose, or breakup situation in a casino-like environment. Participants' reactions were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures brain activity using changes in blood flow and neuronal activity. According to the co-director of the Motivation and Emotion Neuroscience Program they discovered, "monetary reward in a game-like experience produces brain activation very similar to that observed in a cocaine addict receiving an infusion of cocaine." This suggests that serotonin deficiencies may contribute to the compulsive behaviors of pathological gamblers. Other research has shown that the brain's prefrontal cortex associated with judgment and decision-making may be damaged in problem gamblers. Pathological and non-pathological gamblers took mental tests in a study that showed that problem gamblers made worse choices in tasks related to decision-making, attention and inhibitory control by compared to other groups. An abnormality in the prefrontal cortex can be an aggravating factor in compulsive gambling. Furthermore, co-author Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College suggests that “the frontal lobe may help control impulsivity; therefore, a weak link can contribute to people being unable to stop gambling and ignore the negative consequences of their actions,” he continues, adding: “Links can also be affected by mood – and be further weakened by stress, which This may be why drug addicts relapse during difficult times in their lives. Continually, genetics is also another biological factor that contributes to problem gambling. Studies have shown that certain individuals are predisposed to developing gambling problems due to their genes. Genes account for up to 35% of a person's gambling problems. If damage to the prefrontal cortex triggers compulsive gambling, genetics may be to blame. Due to genetic variation between individuals, dopamine and norepinephrine may not have an identical effect on each individual. Humans predisposed to gaming addiction may have a completely different experience of norepinephrine and dopamine, similar to chemical addictions. As mentioned earlier, norepinephrine and dopamine are released to regain the thrill of gaming and avoid stress, so a person continues to play. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay on Depression, mania, substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders are present in many gamers..