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Cited by 1,279Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesParkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Evidence for striatal dopamine release during a video game

Koepp, M. J., Gunn, R. N., Lawrence, A. D., Cunningham, V. J., Dagher, A., Jones, T., Brooks, D. J., Bench, C. J. +1 more·1998·Nature
DOI 10.1038/30498
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Abstract

Dopaminergic neurotransmission may be involved in learning, reinforcement of behaviour, attention, and sensorimotor integration. Binding of the radioligand 11C-labelled raclopride to dopamine D2 receptors is sensitive to levels of endogenous dopamine, which can be released by pharmacological challenge. Here we use 11C-labelled raclopride and positron emission tomography scans to provide evidence that endogenous dopamine is released in the human striatum during a goal-directed motor task, namely a video game. Binding of raclopride to dopamine receptors in the striatum was significantly reduced during the video game compared with baseline levels of binding, consistent with increased release and binding of dopamine to its receptors. The reduction in binding of raclopride in the striatum positively correlated with the performance level during the task and was greatest in the ventral striatum. These results show, to our knowledge for the first time, behavioural conditions under which dopamine is released in humans, and illustrate the ability of positron emission tomography to detect neurotransmitter fluxes in vivo during manipulations of behaviour.

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  • Gaming increases the release of striatal dopamine, promoting long-term potentiation of neural connections within the striatum, which is suggested to improve motivation and one's ability to learn.

    “Gaming increases the release of striatal dopamine [47], [48], promoting long-term potentiation of neural connections within the striatum [49], which is suggested to improve motivation and one’s ability to learn [50] (e.g., during EF training).”

    From Improving Executive Functioning in Children with ADHD: Training Multiple Executive Functions within the Context of a Computer Game. A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial (2015) · cites this paper as [47]

  • The hypothesis that gamification explains the compliance difference is consistent with previous findings of increased time-on-training when EF training was gamified and with the finding that gaming increases the release of striatal dopamine, which is associated with increased motivation to continue playing and performing.

    “This hypothesis is consistent with previous findings of increased time-on-training when EF training was gamified [45] (also see [40]), and with the finding that gaming increases the release of striatal dopamine [47], [48], which is associated with increased motivation to continue playing and performing [50].”

    From Improving Executive Functioning in Children with ADHD: Training Multiple Executive Functions within the Context of a Computer Game. A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial (2015) · cites this paper as [47]

  • PET studies showed that reward leads to dopamine release in the striatum and more specifically in the NAc, as indicated by reduction of binding potential of dopamine receptor subtype 2 using [11C] raclopride.

    “It was shown in positron emission tomography (PET) studies that reward leads to dopamine release in the striatum and more specifically in the NAc as indicated by reduction of the binding potential of the dopamine receptor subtype 2 using the radioligand [11C] raclopride (Koepp et al., 1998; Zald et al., 2004; Jonasson et al., 2014).”

    From Circuit Mechanisms of Reward, Anhedonia, and Depression (2019) · cites this paper as Koepp et al., 1998

  • Positive game-playing experiences trigger release of hormones such as endorphins and striatal dopamine that are responsible for feelings of pleasure and well-being.

    “Evidence from neuropsychological research further suggests the therapeutic value of game-based digital interventions in depression therapy, finding that positive game-playing experiences trigger the release of hormones such as endorphins and striatal dopamine7,8 that are responsible for feelings of pleasure and well-being.9,10”

    From Game-based digital interventions for depression therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2014) · cites this paper as [7]

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Authors
Koepp, M. J., Gunn, R. N., Lawrence, A. D., Cunningham, V. J., Dagher, A., Jones, T., Brooks, D. J., Bench, C. J., & Grasby, P. M.
Affiliations
Hammersmith Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Grasby, P. M.
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1998-05
Volume
393
Issue
6682
Pages
266-268
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/30498
OpenAlex
W2110771878
Cited by
1,279
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 56 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 61
FWCI
11.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
striatal dopamine release, endogenous dopamine, [11C]raclopride, dopamine D2 receptor binding, video game performance, ventral striatum, human brain imaging
MeSH terms
Adult, Corpus Striatum, Dopamine, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Skills, Salicylamides, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Dopamine Antagonists, Video Games, Raclopride

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