The Video Game Reward Loop
Dopamine levels in the brain spike during the anticipation of a video game reward rather than when receiving the reward itself, fueling the urge to keep playing.
The science of the reward loop
Finding the flow zone
The social glue of gaming
Self-determination and virtual worlds
diegoplays The Video Game Reward Loop
Just one more / Just one more / Your dopamine spikes before you score!
Dopamine discovery: In 1957, researchers identified dopamine, which drives anticipation rather than the actual pleasure of winning.
diegoplays Unpredictable rewards trigger a larger dopamine release in the brain than guaranteed prizes.
What reward schedule triggers the highest rate of repetitive behavior in both animals and gamers?
Which psychologist invented the operant conditioning chamber used to study reward schedules?
What term describes the psychological phenomenon where a close failure is processed by the brain as a win?
In what year did psychologist B.F. Skinner first publish his work on operant conditioning?
What chemical in the human brain is most closely associated with anticipation and reward loops?
Which popular video game series uses daily login bonuses and real-time clocks to encourage daily play?
What is the name of the digital mystery packages in video games that contain randomized virtual items?
According to a 2009 study in the journal Neuron, near misses activate which brain system?