Brain Metabolic Changes During Cigarette Craving

摘要: Background In functional brain imaging studies, exposure to cues related cocaine, opiates, and alcohol in dependent individuals is associated with activation of the anterior cingulate gyrus, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Craving for these substances positively correlates activity insula. The objective this study was determine changes regional cerebral glucose metabolism correlations between craving heavy cigarette smokers exposed cigarette-related cues. Methods Twenty (who smoked ≥20 cigarettes per day) 20 nonsmoking control subjects underwent 2 fluorine 18–fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans 10 days apart randomized order: one while watching a videotape that presented handling cigarette, other an educational (nature) neutral object (pen). Results From cue scan, had greater increases than controls relative perigenual gyrus spanning midline. Significant positive were found intensity insula bilaterally. An unexpected association right sensorimotor Conclusions Brain regions arousal, compulsive repetitive behaviors, sensory integration, episodic memory are activated during craving. These activations associations similar findings addictive substances.