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Non-invasive brain stimulation may help people manage their drive for gambling, sex, alcohol or overeating

Date:
November 29, 2016
Source:
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
Summary:
A new study looks at theta burst stimulation as an intervention in problem behaviors. The study shows how non-invasive brain stimulation might be used as an intervention in sexual desire difficulties, to improve sexual decision-making, or to curb impulsivity in problem behaviors.
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A study led by researchers from UCLA suggests that a form of non-invasive brain stimulation may help people manage their drive for rewards, like gambling, sex, drinking alcohol or overeating.

Researchers wanted to see if brain stimulation could be used to alter a person's response to a primary reward. Primary rewards are those key to survival, such as food, sex and the nurturing of children. Problems with the brain's reward circuitry are core deficits in many disorders, such as depression and addiction.

Researchers recruited a sample of 20 very sexually active men and women from the community. Volunteers were administered both intermittent and continuous forms of brain stimulation in which a magnetic field generator, or "coil," is used to stimulate small regions of the brain.

After each stimulation, participants completed a series of tasks while their brain response was measured. In one task, they attempted to "win" seconds of sexual stimulation, a stand-in for the primary reward of sex.

The EEG showed volunteers' desire for this reward was increased, or decreased, depending on the type of brain stimulation they received beforehand. Continuous theta burst stimulation increased the volunteers' anticipation of sexual stimulation, and the intermittent theta burst stimulation decreased the volunteers' anticipation.

The study shows how non-invasive brain stimulation might be used as an intervention in sexual desire difficulties, to improve sexual decision-making, or to curb impulsivity in problem behaviors.


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Materials provided by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Nicole Prause, Greg J. Siegle, Choi Deblieck, Allan Wu, Marco Iacoboni. EEG to Primary Rewards: Predictive Utility and Malleability by Brain Stimulation. PLOS ONE, 2016; 11 (11): e0165646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165646

Cite This Page:

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. "Non-invasive brain stimulation may help people manage their drive for gambling, sex, alcohol or overeating." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 November 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161129161514.htm>.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. (2016, November 29). Non-invasive brain stimulation may help people manage their drive for gambling, sex, alcohol or overeating. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 15, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161129161514.htm
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. "Non-invasive brain stimulation may help people manage their drive for gambling, sex, alcohol or overeating." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161129161514.htm (accessed October 15, 2024).

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