Position     Research Scientist
Phone       416-535-8501 Ext. 6052
Email        martin_zack@camh.net

Martin Zack is a Research Scientist in the Clinical Neuroscience Section at CAMH. His research examines the neurochemical basis of problem gambling and how alterations in brain chemistry influence gambling reinforcement in problem gamblers and non-problem gamblers. Martin employs drug probes that influence specific neurochemical systems and assess their effects on responses to an episode of slot machine gambling in a mock-bar setting. Subjective (e.g., self-rated desire to gamble) cognitive (e.g., automatic gambling-related associations), behavioral (e.g., risk-taking) and physiological (e.g., blood pressure) measures are taken when participants have received drug or placebo. This approach permits identification of neurochemical targets for intervention and screening of potential medications for the management of problem gambling. Martin Zack is cross appointed with the University of Torontos Department of Pharmacology and the Department of Public Health Sciences.