Psychophysiological arousal in problem and non-problem video lottery gamblers

This study measured three indices of physiological arousal (electromyographic activity, [EMG], skin conductance [SCL], and heart rate) during gambling and gambling related tasks in a sample of problem (n = 32) and non-problem (n = 32) video lottery gamblers. No difference was found between the groups at baseline or during a neutral task. A significant increase in all indices was observed for both groups from baseline to gambling task. A significant interaction was observed for heart rate, with problem gamblers experiencing a smaller increase than non-problem gamblers when gambling. Both groups experienced increases in EMG when thinking about personally relevant wins, and increases in SM and heart rate when thinking about losing.

Problem gamblers reported subjective feelings of excitement which were not correlated with physiological measures and more feelings of dissociation when gambling (Jacobs, 1988) than the non-problem gamblers. Preference for stimulating situations was negatively correlated with baseline heart rate and EMG levels, but was not associated with problem gambling behaviour.

It appears that there were few differences between the groups in response to gambling and gambling related situations. Differences may lie in how gamblers perceive the arousal they experience.