RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Neural Substrates of Abstinence-Induced Cigarette Cravings in Chronic Smokers
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 14035
OP 14040
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2966-07.2007
VO 27
IS 51
A1 Ze Wang
A1 Myles Faith
A1 Freda Patterson
A1 Kathy Tang
A1 Kia Kerrin
A1 E. Paul Wileyto
A1 John A. Detre
A1 Caryn Lerman
YR 2007
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/27/51/14035.abstract
AB Craving is a hallmark of drug dependence, including dependence on nicotine. Many studies have examined the neural substrates of cravings elicited by smoking-related cues. Less is known about the neural basis of unprovoked, abstinence-induced cravings, despite the contributions of such cravings to smoking relapse. To fill this gap, we used arterial spin labeled (ASL) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging to characterize the neural substrates of abstinence-induced cravings to smoke. Fifteen chronic smokers were scanned during a resting state on two separate occasions: (1) smoking satiety and (2) abstinence (after ≥12 h of smoking deprivation), in counterbalanced order. Smoking abstinence state (vs satiety) was associated with increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and left OFC. Abstinence-induced cravings to smoke were predicted by CBF increases (abstinence minus satiety) in the right OFC, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, occipital cortex, ACC, ventral striatum/nucleus accumbens, thalamus, amygdala, bilateral hippocampus, left caudate, and right insula. These data suggest that increased activation in the brain's visuospatial and reward circuitry underlies abstinence-induced cravings to smoke, and thereby, may be important in relapse.