Efforts to Control Online Gambling, JUDOL, through a Neuropsychological Approach

Tauhid Nur Azhar

Photo by SLNC on Unsplash

The Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed that the number of online gambling transactions in the environment of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) reached 7,000 transactions.

The Head of PPATK, Ivan Yustiavandana, stated that this number is only a part of the total 63,000 online gambling transactions in the environment of the DPR, DPRD, and the Secretariat General (Setjen). (CNN, June 26, 2024)

The Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK) of Indonesia reported a worrying surge in online gambling transactions, exceeding IDR 600 trillion in the first quarter of 2024. This shocking figure highlights the pervasive nature of online gambling, which continues to dominate suspicious financial transaction reports, accounting for 32.1%. The financial implications of this widespread gambling activity are enormous, including the potential for money laundering, tax evasion, and financial instability for individuals and families involved.

To understand the appeal and potential dangers of online gambling, it is essential to explore the neurobiological mechanisms that drive such behavior.

The core of reward processing in the brain lies in the ventral striatum (VS), a critical region for constructing motivation, decision-making, and reward processing.

The VS, particularly the nucleus accumbens, becomes highly active during the anticipation and reception of monetary and social rewards (Izuma, Saito, & Sadato, 2008; Knutson, Adams, Fong, & Hommer, 2001).

The VS receives input from the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and brainstem, integrating various signals to drive goal-directed behavior, reinforcement learning, and conditioned responses. The involvement of this region in reward processing makes it a central player in addictive behaviors, including gambling.

Neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections and pathways, and neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, are fundamental processes that can be influenced by experience, including gambling.

Synaptic plasticity, particularly long-term potentiation (LTP), is a key mechanism by which the strength of synaptic connections is enhanced after repeated stimulation. This process is crucial for learning and memory and underlies addictive behavior seen in gambling.

Time-dependent plasticity and metaplasticity expand on this concept by incorporating the timing of neural activity and changes in network levels, respectively.

This form of plasticity illustrates how experiences, including repeated rewards from gambling, can lead to long-term changes in brain function.

Homeostatic plasticity ensures the stability of neural networks over time, while functional reorganization allows the brain to adapt after injury.

Concepts such as equipotentiality and vicariation highlight the brain’s ability to redistribute function across different regions, a phenomenon observed in recovery from stroke or other neural damage (Jaillard et al., 2005).

Diaschisis, the loss of function in one brain area due to damage in another, demonstrates how interconnected brain regions can influence each other.

This concept has been used to explain the effects of stroke and other neurological conditions, further emphasizing the dynamic and interconnected nature of the brain.

Epigenetics refers to modifications to DNA that regulate gene activity without changing the DNA sequence itself. These modifications, influenced by environmental factors such as diet, stress, and toxin exposure, can have profound effects on behavior and brain function. For example, DNA methylation and histone modification can alter gene expression, potentially contributing to addiction and other neurobehavioral disorders.

In the context of gambling, epigenetic mechanisms can play a role in the development of addictive behavior. Epigenetic reprogramming, the process by which environmental factors influence gene expression to produce a particular phenotype, offers a framework for understanding individual differences in susceptibility to addiction. This reprogramming can lead to long-term changes in brain circuits and behavior, highlighting the complex interaction between genes and environment in shaping addiction (Bergland, 2017).

The human brain has a complex reward mechanism that drives individuals to seek and engage in beneficial behaviors. This mechanism involves various brain structures, including:

• Ventral tegmental area (VTA), which produces dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation, and reinforcement learning.
• Nucleus accumbens (NAc), a part of the ventral striatum that receives dopamine from the VTA and plays a crucial role in reward processing, anticipation, and motivation.
• Prefrontal cortex (PFC), which helps with decision-making, planning, and impulse control, and modulates NAc activity.

When an individual engages in beneficial behavior, such as eating tasty food or winning a bet in online gambling, the VTA releases dopamine to the NAc. Dopamine activates neurons in the NAc, producing a feeling of pleasure and reinforcing the behavior. This encourages the individual to repeat the behavior in the future.

The ventral striatum, particularly the NAc, plays a central role in the reward mechanism and addiction. The NAc is connected to various brain areas involved in motivation, decision-making, and impulse control, allowing it to integrate information from multiple sources and drive behavior towards rewards.

In the context of online gambling, the NAc is highly active when an individual anticipates and receives rewards, such as winning a bet. This NAc activity reinforces gambling behavior and increases the likelihood of the individual continuing to gamble, even when they experience losses.

Several theories have been proposed to explain the role of the ventral striatum in online gambling, including:

• The sensitization theory, which suggests that repeated exposure to rewards from online gambling can increase the sensitivity of the NAc to dopamine, leading to a need for more stimulation to achieve the same level of pleasure. This can result in increased frequency and intensity of gambling.
• The desensitization theory, which suggests that repeated exposure to rewards from online gambling can decrease the sensitivity of the NAc to dopamine, leading to a need for more stimulation to achieve the same level of pleasure. This can result in individuals seeking more risky or extreme ways to gamble to achieve the desired level of pleasure.
• The disinhibition theory, which suggests that online gambling can disrupt PFC function, leading to impulsivity and a greater likelihood of engaging in risky behavior.

Online gambling addiction, characterized by compulsive gambling behavior despite negative consequences, has become a significant mental health problem. A neuroscientific approach offers valuable insights into understanding and managing this addiction.

Neuroscientific research shows that online gambling addiction involves structural and functional changes in the brain. Brain areas involved in reward processing, motivation, and cognitive control, such as the ventral striatum, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala, exhibit altered activity and connectivity in individuals with addiction.

• Ventral striatum, which is highly active when anticipating and receiving rewards, including money won in online gambling. Excessive activity in the ventral striatum can reinforce gambling behavior and increase the likelihood of addiction.
• Prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, planning, and impulse control. In individuals with online gambling addiction, PFC function may be impaired, leading to impulsivity and a reduced ability to control gambling behavior.
• Amygdala, which is involved in emotional processing, including fear and anxiety. In individuals with online gambling addiction, the amygdala may become more sensitive to stress and anxiety, driving them to gamble as a way to cope with negative emotions.

Understanding the brain mechanisms underlying online gambling addiction can inform the development of more effective management strategies:

• Neuroplasticity-based therapies, such as interventions aimed at training the brain to change thought patterns and behaviors associated with addiction. Techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness can help individuals develop healthier coping strategies and reduce the desire to gamble.
• Neuromodulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), can be used to target brain areas involved in addiction and modulate their activity. While still in the early stages of research, neuromodulation shows promise in helping to reduce addiction symptoms.
• Medications, such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers, can help manage symptoms of online gambling addiction, such as depression and anxiety. However, it is essential to note that medications should only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy and other interventions.

If we take the example of the mindfulness model, which can be developed as a socially scaled approach, not just a personal one, we can make a breakthrough in controlling online gambling addiction by applying mindful concepts on a large scale.

Why? Because mindfulness can increase the ability to recognize and understand one’s thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. This awareness can help individuals identify early warning signs that may trigger gambling urges, such as stress, boredom, or anxiety. Mindfulness can also reduce emotional reactivity by training individuals to approach their emotions in a non-judgmental way, allowing them to observe and accept their feelings without feeling overwhelmed. This can help break the cycle of seeking emotional escape through gambling. Mindfulness training can also strengthen the ability to pause and reflect before acting, increasing control over impulsive behaviors and helping individuals make more conscious decisions about their behavior.

Several mindfulness-based interventions have shown potential in addressing online gambling addiction, including Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), which combines mindfulness practices with relapse prevention strategies to help individuals identify triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and prevent relapse. Another is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on accepting difficult thoughts and emotions while committing to actions that align with one’s life goals. This can help individuals reduce emotional triggers that lead to gambling and pursue more fulfilling activities. Then there is Mindful Self-Compassion, which involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding, even in the face of failure. This can help reduce shame and self-criticism that often contribute to gambling addiction. A neuroscience approach to managing online gambling addiction should be integrated with a holistic approach that considers psychological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to addiction. This can include individual and group therapy, family counseling, and community support.

References:

• Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. A. (2010). Neurobiology of addiction. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 33(1), 397–429.
• Levesque, M., & O’Brien, M. (2007). Gambling addiction and the brain. Addiction, 102(11), 1628–1636.
• Volkow, N. A., Wang, G. J., Fowler, J. S., Salloway, B., Goldstein, R. Z., & Aston-Jones, G. (2009). Dopamine dysfunction in the human brain: Insights into the pathology and treatment of addiction. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 33(4), 818–842.