Pathological gamblers appear to have different decision making strategies in certain situations compared to non- gamblers, for example, when faced with choices with delayed rewards. These altered decision-making strategies are thought to contribute to/cause pathological gambling behaviours.

Researchers from the Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit at Manchester University are investigating these decision making strategies in order to uncover reasons why pathological gamblers feel the need to gamble and gamble in an uncontrolled way, usually in spite of previous heavy losses.

They are also investigating what brain areas may be involved in the creation of these decision-making strategies. They are also interested in brain areas involved in the urge to gamble, the precursor event to the act of gambling.

There are two phases of research. In phase 1 participants complete some questionnaires and computer- based tasks. Participation is approx. 3 hours.

The second phase involves the use of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Participants will lie in the scanner whilst completing computer based tasks. Participation is approx 1 hour (40 mins in the scanner).

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