Researchers have found the area of the human brain that is responsible for ones gambling habits. A study published in Neuron showed that through the ase of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers have identified structures and pathways in the deep structures of the brain that weigh the risk and expected reward when making a decision under situations of uncertainty. The study analyzed the MRI images of 19 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 30, with no history of mental illness or gambling compulsion. The participants were given $25, and then asked to bet $1 on which of the first two cards from the top of the deck were higher. The cards where then revealed one at a time. The main period of interest was between the revealing of the first and second card. In this period, the participants were able to more precisely assess the risk and the expected reward of the bet that they had made. The findings showed that in this period, the participants focused on the expected reward. The assessment of risk came slightly later. The MRI images illustrated the activation of dopamine-a neurotransmitter in the brain that is involved in movement, emotions, and pleasure and pain feelings. Activation of different dopamine structures correlated with the onset of the expected reward and risk. The knowledge of how the dopamine structures and pathways in the brain are involved in risk and reward decisions are important in understanding the causes and developing treatments for many conditions such as gambling addictions, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenics.