Neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are robust in establishing the neurobiological functioning of both healthy individuals and those who have an addictive disorder or mental health condition. Given that gambling disorder has presented similar characteristics as those of substance use disorder, including in the neurocognitive domain, it has recently been classified in the DSM-5 as a behavioural addiction. Despite the growing number of empirical studies characterizing the neurocognitive manifestation of gambling disorder, there are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered.

This public lecture will explore the intricate neurobiological processes underlying gambling disorder, a behavioural addiction that affects millions of people worldwide. We will delve into the different brain regions and the inter-regional functional connectivity involved in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviours. Relying on the aberrant functional connectivity and inter-network coupling displayed in substance use disorders will speculate how such abnormal connectivity may also explain the maintenance of gambling disorder. By the end of the lecture, attendees will have a deeper understanding of the complex neurobiological underpinnings of gambling disorder and the implications on executive functions such as working memory and cognitive control.