Midbrain Mutiny: The Picoeconomics and Neuroeconomics of Disordered Gambling: Economic Theory and Cognitive Science (Bradford Books)

An analysis of how economic theories can be used to understand disordered and pathological gambling that calls on empirical evidence about behavior and the brain and argues that addictive gambling is the basic form of all addiction.The explanatory power of economic theory is tested by the phenomenon of irrational consumption, examples of which include such addictive behaviors as disordered and pathological gambling. Midbrain Mutiny examines different economic models of disordered gambling, using the frameworks of neuroeconomics (which analyzes decision making in the brain) and picoeconomics (which analyzes patterns of consumption behavior), and drawing on empirical evidence about behavior and the brain.The book describes addiction in neuroeconomic terms as chronic disruption of the balance between the midbrain dopamine system and the prefrontal and frontal serotonergic system, and reviews recent evidence from trials testing the effectiveness of antiaddiction drugs. The authors argue that the best way to understand disordered and addictive gambling is with a hybrid picoeconomic-neuroeconomic model. The explanatory power of economic theory is tested by the phenomenon of irrationalconsumption, examples of which include such addictive behaviors as disordered and pathologicalgambling. Midbrain Mutiny examines different economic models of disorderedgambling, using the frameworks of neuroeconomics (which analyzes decision making in the brain) andpicoeconomics (which analyzes patterns of consumption behavior), and drawing on empirical evidenceabout behavior and the brain. The book describes addiction in neuroeconomic terms as chronicdisruption of the balance between the midbrain dopamine system and the prefrontal and frontalserotonergic system, and reviews recent evidence from trials testing the effectiveness ofantiaddiction drugs. The authors argue that the best way to understand disordered and addictivegambling is with a hybrid picoeconomic-neuroeconomic model. "Midbrain Mutiny examines different economic models of disordered gambling, using the frameworks of neuroeconomics (which analyzes decision making in the brain) and picoeconomics (which analyzes patterns of consumption behavior), and drawing on empirical evidence about behavior and the brain. The authors argue that pathological gambling is a true addiction and that addictive gambling is the basic form of addiction, revealing the core character of all addiction." "The book describes addiction in neuroeconomic terms as chronic disruption of the balance between the midbrain dopamine system and the prefrontal and frontal serotonergic system, and reviews recent evidence from trials testing the effectiveness of antiaddiction drugs."--BOOK JACKET Is there such a thing as addiction? Gambling in scientific focus Picoeconomics, impulsive consumption, and disordered gambling Behavioral and psychological investigations of disordered gambling The neuroeconomics of addiction Addictive gambling as the basic form of addiction Clinical evidence and implications The microexplanation of disordered gambling.

An analysis of how economic theories can be used to understand disordered and pathological gambling that calls on empirical evidence about behavior and the brain and argues that addictive gambling is the basic form of all addiction.