Gambling and virtual reality: unraveling the illusion of near-misses effect

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322631
• Publication Date: 2024-02-01T04:41:08Z
• Authors: Alessandro Quaglieri; Alessandra Pizzo; Clarissa Cricenti; Ginevra Tagliaferri; Francesca Valeria...; Jessica Burrai; Emanuela Mari; Giulia Lausi; Anna Maria Giannini; Pierpaolo Zivi
• Keywords: Anticipation (artificial intelligence); Behavioral addiction; Gambling disorder; Sample (material)

Introduction Studying gambling behavior is a crucial element in reducing the impact of problem gambling. Nevertheless, most current research carried out controlled laboratory settings rather than real-life situations, which raises concerns about how applicable findings are broader context. Virtual reality (VR) has proven to be valuable tool and been utilized various experimental scenarios. A limited number studies have employed VR investigate behaviors, few explored them an older adolescent Methods This study examined behavioral physiological effects behavior, including gambling, gaming addiction, risk-taking decision-making sample 36 high-school students aged between 18 20 years using ad-hoc constructed scenario designed simulate slot-machine platform. Results The results highlighted that participants reporting more were sensitive near-misses: i.e., they bet after near-misses losses. result may reflect false belief gamblers, near-misses, closer winning. Physiological data showed exhibited heart rate deceleration during anticipation outcome, suggested represent marker feedback processing hyposensitivity Discussion Overall, this provides evidence for new assess behaviors insights into gambling-related factors. Implications treatment discussed.