Brain Implant Study in China Sparks Concerns Over Gambling Addiction
Medical Trial in China Explores Brain Implants for Opioid Addiction
A recent medical study in China tested the use of brain implants as a potential treatment for opioid addiction. However, the experiment faced criticism after several participants experienced significant behavioral changes, with uncontrollable gambling emerging as a major adverse effect.
Trial Participants Develop Gambling Problems
The nationwide study, conducted between 2021 and 2022, involved 60 individuals who received deep-brain stimulation (DBS) devices produced by a Chinese medical technology company. These implants targeted the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain associated with reward, motivation, and impulse control. The goal was to reduce cravings for opioids, but some participants reported that the stimulation redirected their impulses towards other risky behaviors, particularly gambling.
Investigations revealed that at least eight patients found the side effects intolerable, with gambling addiction being the most common complaint. Many reported sudden urges to gamble, especially online, despite having no prior history of gambling. For some, this led to severe financial losses and increased debt.
Case of Severe Gambling Loss Following Brain Implant Activation
One participant, who had been using heroin for over a decade, began to compulsively gamble after the implant was activated. Over a few months, he lost approximately 200,000 yuan (about $28,000). His condition deteriorated to the point where he required multiple psychiatric hospitalizations and eventually relapsed into drug use, despite the treatment’s intended purpose.
When the device was switched off at his request, the patient became distressed and wanted it reactivated, demonstrating his dependence on the changes induced by the implant. He considered legal action against the device manufacturer but abandoned the idea after being advised it would be difficult to prove causation.
Unpredictable Behavioral Effects Observed in Brain Stimulation Trial
Other subjects reported a variety of behavioral changes, such as increased anxiety, heightened energy levels, slower responses, and enhanced sexual desire. Yet, gambling addiction remained the most persistent and damaging issue, disrupting finances, family relationships, and social functioning.
The researchers acknowledged that activating the nucleus accumbens can trigger complex and unpredictable effects. While adjusting the electrical settings helped some patients, many did not experience significant improvement despite multiple attempts. By January, 11 participants had chosen to deactivate their devices.
The device manufacturer maintained that their DBS system received regulatory approval in 2017 and met ethical standards during the trial. Nonetheless, these outcomes have sparked debate about whether brain stimulation intended to treat addiction may simply redirect compulsive behaviors, rather than eliminate them.
