Japanese Scientists Develop Brain Implant Chip to Tackle Gambling Addiction

A team of researchers from Kyoto University in Japan has developed a brain implant chip with the potential to address gambling addiction. The microchip was tested on Japanese macaques, demonstrating promising results by influencing the monkeys' risk-taking behavior.

In the study, the monkeys were trained to make choices based on colored spots on a screen, with varying degrees of rewards associated with each choice. After the introduction of the chip, the monkeys exhibited a more cautious approach, opting for less risky choices.

Subsequently, the macaques were presented with a video game offering a safe path to a single banana and a riskier path to a bunch of bananas. Those with the implanted chip displayed more accurate decision-making compared to a control group.

While the initial trials showed success, the researchers emphasize the need for further research before considering the implantation of such microdevices in humans to address gambling addiction.