Jonesing for a cigarette due to stress? Tell your thalamus to calm down.
In a study funded by Philip Morris USA, Duke researchers identified three brain regions that become active during nicotine cravings. Of interest, each brain region was predominantly related to a certain "trigger" for smoking.
One region that lights up, called the thalamus, is considered to be the key relay
point for sensory information flowing into the brain. ... The researchers found that changes in this region were most dramatic among those who said they smoked to calm down when under stress.
Another region that lights up is a part of the pleasure system of the brain. Changes in this region, called the striatum, were most notable in people who smoked to satisfy craving and for pleasurable relaxation, the researchers said.
A third region that lights up, called the anterior cingulate cortex, is vital to cognitive functions such as conflict, self regulation, decision making and emotion. People whose brain scans showed the most differences in this region also reported that they smoked to manage their weight.
The researchers will now examine the brains of people using nicotine replacement therapy to see how the treatments affect these areas of the brain.
A review of 12 studies published in the journal Addiction earlier this month found that just 5 minutes of brisk walking helped cut nicotine addiction.
I stopped smoking after the accident that left me paralyzed and in a coma. It was effective, but the Surgeon General doesn't reccomend it. Neither do I.
Brain Scans Reveal Cause of Smokers' Cravings [Duke Med News]
