Neural Circuitry of Impulsivity in a Cigarette Craving Paradigm

Bibliographic Data

ID15529313
AuthorsJosiane Bourque (0000-0001-9357-0245, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, corresponding author), Adrianna Mendrek (0000-0001-8056-5228, Bishop's University), Laurence Dinh-Williams (Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec), Stéphane Potvin (0000-0003-1624-378X, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec)
Year2013
Volume4
Pages67-67
Publication date2013-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00067
PMID23874307
PMCIDPMC3712893
OpenAlexW2081870289
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited16

Impulsivity has been shown to play a pivotal role in the onset, pattern of consumption, relapse and, most notably, craving of illicit and licit drugs such as cigarette smoking. The goal of this study was to examine the neurobiological influence of trait impulsivity during cue-induced cigarette craving. Thirty-one chronic smokers passively viewed appetitive smoking-related and neutral images while being scanned and reported their feelings of craving. They completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, a measure of trait impulsivity. We conducted functional connectivity analyses using the psycho-physiological interaction method. During the processing of smoking stimuli, participants presented increased activations in the cingulate and prefrontal cortices. We observed a significant positive relationship between impulsivity scores and reported craving. A negative correlation was observed between the impulsivity score and activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) as well as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) presented a negative connectivity with the PCC. Consistent with the view that the PCC is related to the ability to resist cigarette craving, our results suggest that high impulsive smokers have greater difficulty in controlling their cravings, and that this weakness may be mediated by lower PCC activity. Moreover, we argue that the less PCC activity, the greater the probability of a stronger emotional, physiological, and biased attentional response to smoking cues mediated by insula, dACC, and DLPFC activity. This is the first study on this topic, and so, results will need to be replicated in both licit and illicit drug abusers. Our findings also highlight a need for more emphasis on the PCC in drug addiction research, as it is one of the most consistently activated regions in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies examining the neural correlates of cue-induced alcohol, drug, and tobacco cravings

Addiction · Anterior cingulate cortex · Barratt Impulsiveness Scale · Brain activity and meditation · Central nervous system · Cingulate cortex · Cognition · Craving · Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex · Electroencephalography · Food craving · Impulsivity · Insula · Nicotine · Posterior cingulate · Prefrontal cortex · Trait · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Clinical Psychology · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Neuroscience · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation

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