Midbrain Mutiny: The Picoeconomics and Neuroeconomics of Disordered Gambling: Economic Theory and Cognitive Science

by Don H. Ross

The explanatory power of economic theory is tested by the phenomenon of irrational
consumption, examples of which include such addictive behaviors as disordered and pathological
gambling. Midbrain Mutiny examines different economic models of disordered
gambling, using the frameworks of neuroeconomics (which analyzes decision making in the brain) and
picoeconomics (which analyzes patterns of consumption behavior), and drawing on empirical evidence
about behavior and the brain. The book describes addiction in neuroeconomic terms as chronic
disruption of the balance between the midbrain dopamine system and the prefrontal and frontal
serotonergic system, and reviews recent evidence from trials testing the effectiveness of
antiaddiction drugs. The authors argue that the best way to understand disordered and addictive
gambling is with a hybrid picoeconomic-neuroeconomic model.

Genres: Science, Philosophy

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Muhammad al-Khwarizmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, if overly instrumentalist and too generous to neoclassical economic theory, but very dense. Very, very dense. Practically a reference work. Read in full only if you are truly hardcore about the topic of addiction.

[Dana Ream · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is directed less at a general audience, and more towards academics. Having said that, I thought is was interesting none the less.