Table 1.

Similarities and differences between pathological gambling (PG) and substance use disorders (SUDs) with regard to neurocognitive task performance findings (see text for details)

Primary construct	PG results	SUD results: similarities/differences with PG
Response impulsivity	PG groups exhibit more commission errors than do controls on go/no-go tasks. PG groups demonstrate longer stop-signal reaction times on stop-signal task than do controls but also negative and qualified findings.	SUD groups also exhibit more commission errors than do controls. SUD groups also demonstrate longer stop- signal reaction times on stop-signal task than do controls.
Choice impulsivity (delay discounting)	PG groups discount delayed rewards to a greater extent than do controls. PD patients with ICDs discount delayed rewards to a greater extent than patients without ICDs.	SUD groups also discount delayed rewards to a greater extent than do controls.
Reflection impulsivity	PG groups demonstrate greater difficulty with reflection than do controls.	SUD groups also demonstrate greater difficulty with reflection than do controls.
Attention and working memory	Lack of strong evidence that attention and working memory are compromised in PG.	SUD groups demonstrate greater difficulties with attention and working memory than do controls.
Response perseveration compulsivity	Most findings suggest greater response perseveration in PG groups as compared with controls.	Some findings also suggest greater response perseveration in SUD groups than in controls but several negative findings as well.
Risk/reward decision- making	PG groups draw from disadvantageous decks more frequently than do controls on IGT and bet more and lose more money than do controls on CGT.	SUD groups also draw from disadvantageous decks more frequently than do controls on IGT, but evidence of some differences from PG. SUD and substance using groups bet more and lose more than do controls on CGT, but negative findings as well.

PD: Parkinson’s Disease, ICD: impulse control disorder, IGT: Iowa Gambling Task, CGT: Cambridge Gamble Task