On the campus of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in Woluwé, a laboratory is conducting a novel experiment. Its aim: to understand how regular gamblers make their decisions: those who, every week, indulge in sports betting, scratch cards or casino games. A study shared by the Gaming Commission.
This time, the aim is not to prevent the excesses of pathological gambling or to moralise the practice, but to gain a better understanding of what actually goes on in the brains of gamblers.
An experiment on the frontiers of neurotechnology
The study uses a technique that is still little known to the general public: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Non-invasive, painless and harmless, this method uses a magnetic field to activate or modulate certain areas of the brain.
The protocol is simple: two four-hour sessions, no more than a week apart, during which participants perform decision-making tasks on a screen, similar to video games.
Who are the volunteers?
The study is aimed at a well-targeted population: right-handed men and women aged between 18 and 45 who regularly play gambling games. This includes sports betting, online or physical casinos, the national lottery, scratch cards, etc. All are welcome, provided that they do not suffer from any known neurological or psychiatric pathology, or take drugs or alcohol the day before the experiment.
Another surprising but essential criterion is that you must have good close-up vision… without glasses. This is explained by the on-screen experimental protocol, which requires precise visual acuity to guarantee the validity of the results.
Where, when and how can you take part?
The sessions take place at the CoActions Lab, located on the UCLouvain campus in Woluwé, more precisely Avenue Hippocrate 54, 1200 Brussels. You can register via this link (in French).
Please note that places are limited and that applicants must first check their eligibility by filling in a form.