SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-How the Brain Is Functionally Connected During Cigarette Relapse

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This study examined how the brain is functionally connected during cigarette relapse when smoking is immediately available, a situation that more closely resembles real-world relapse than prior cue-reactivity studies. The researchers focused on 43 nicotine-deprived smokers who completed an fMRI scan while viewing smoking-related and neutral images. Importantly, participants could smoke inside the scanner, allowing the team to compare brain connectivity before and after smoking. Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis was used to assess changes in whole-brain functional connectivity.<br /><br />The main finding was that smoking availability and actual smoking changed how reward- and cue-related brain regions communicated with other areas. Before smoking, the nucleus accumbens showed greater connectivity with the right superior orbital gyrus when participants viewed neutral images. After smoking, the anterior cingulate cortex showed stronger connectivity with the right superior medial gyrus when participants viewed cigarette cues. After smoking, the caudate nucleus also became more strongly connected to several regions, including the left middle temporal gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyri, right inferior temporal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobe, and cerebellum, especially in response to neutral rather than cigarette images.<br /><br />Overall, the results suggest that the motivational meaning of smoking cues is not fixed; it changes depending on whether smoking is possible and whether withdrawal is relieved. The findings support the idea that cigarette availability can alter reward system function, and that smoking may temporarily restore neural balance. The study also highlights the involvement of brain regions such as the basal ganglia and inferior frontal gyrus/insula, which have been previously linked to chronic drug use.

Asset Subtitle

Danyon J. Anderson

Meta Tag

Author List Danyon J. Anderson, Dylan Trinh, Harpreet Gill, Hefei Liu, Jeffrey Engelmann, Nathan Li, Paige McKenzie

Category Research

Concept Smoking Availability

Concept Functional Brain Connectivity

Concept Psychophysiological Interaction Analysis

Concept Cigarette Cue Reactivity

Concept Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Medical College of Wisconsin

Presenting Author Danyon J. Anderson

Track Translating Research into Practice

Keywords

cigarette relapse

smoking availability

functional connectivity

fMRI

nicotine deprivation

nucleus accumbens

anterior cingulate cortex

caudate nucleus

smoking cues

reward system

Smoking Availability

Functional Brain Connectivity

Psychophysiological Interaction Analysis

Cigarette Cue Reactivity

Anterior Cingulate Cortex