People with gambling disorder may experience immersion. Immersion describes a state where people are completely focused on what they are doing and lose track of time and their surroundings. The goal of this review article was to identify and summarize research on two related topics. First, the authors wanted to examine whether immersion is relevant to other addictive disorders. Research suggests that immersion is a common feature of addictive disorders and is often related to experiences of trauma. Second, the authors reviewed literature on brain systems involved in immersion. Research has linked several brain regions and networks to immersion. The neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine may also be involved.
