The post-reinforcement pause (PRP) refers to a break that animals take between receiving some uncertain reward and beginning to seek the next reward. Spin Initiation Latency (SIL) is the time to initiate the next spin after a bet is placed on a slot machine and the outcome is known. The aim of this study was to examine whether immersion in slot machine gambling influenced PRP duration. This study also examined whether this effect varied due to the nature of reinforcement. A total of 53 Canadian adults (19+ years old) were recruited. Participants were given $40 CAD to gamble on a popular slot machine. Eighteen participants were asked to bet until all funds were used, while the other participants bet until 20 minutes had passed.
The SIL duration was longer for trials that involved forms of positive reinforcement; that is, participants paused for longer before starting the next spin after wins, free-spin bonus features, and losses disguised as wins (LDWs) than after losses. Free-spin bonus features resulted in the largest PRP. Wins had the next highest effect on PRP, followed by LDWs. The researchers also found support for the influences of immersion in gambling. Specifically, longer pauses following wins and LDWs occurred among participants who were more immersed in gambling.
