A slot is a narrow depression or perforation, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin. It can also refer to a position in a schedule or sequence.

Slots are a type of gambling machine in which players insert coins and push a lever or button to activate a set of reels, which display symbols and determine an outcome. The probability of a winning combination is based on the number of symbols and their position relative to each other. A win occurs when all of the reels stop with matching symbols. A large number of wins in a row will result in the machine paying out credits to the player.

While the majority of gamblers view their gambling as harmless entertainment, a subset experience severe gambling-related problems, including mounting financial debt and trouble in personal and professional relationships. It is therefore important to understand the factors that motivate and sustain this addictive behavior.

In a recent study, Dixon et al. used skin conductance responses to measure participants’ physiological reactivity to wins and losses in a slot machine simulator. They found that the amplitude of SCRs was tightly titrated to the size of the win; the larger the win, the higher the reactivity. This is consistent with previous research on the arousal-inducing effects of slot machines.

In this experiment, participants played two different sessions on a multiline slot machine simulation. In the first session (sound-on), wins and LDWs were accompanied by visual celebratory feedback in addition to custom-created rolling sounds and winning jingles. In the second session, all sound effects were turned off, and only visual feedback was provided. Physiological measures of arousal were taken before and after each session, as well as ratings of positive and negative affect.