Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Overactivation of the Habitual Control Brain System in Tobacco Dependence

Abstract

Introduction:We studied the regulatory mechanism of the habitual brain network in tobacco dependence to provide a theoretical basis for the regulation and cessation of tobacco dependence. Methods: We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) of the habitual brain network in tobacco-dependent subjects and to evaluate the relationship between the FC level and tobacco selection preference behavior. In total, 29 male tobacco-dependent participants and 28 male nonsmoking participants were recruited. rs-fMRI was used to collect blood oxygen level-dependent signals of the participants in the resting and awake states. After rs-fMRI, all subjects completed cigarette/coin selection tasks (task 1 and task 2). Results: Compared with the control group, the tobacco dependence group showed increased fractional amplitude values of fALFF in the left posterior cingulate cortex and right parahippocampus. FC in the tobacco-dependent group was increased in the right inferior temporal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left cingulated gyrus, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus, compared with that in the control group. Moreover, the preference selection behavior was associated with the enhancement of FC about parts of the brain regions in the habitual brain network of the tobacco-dependent participants. Thus, habitual network activity was significantly enhanced in tobacco-dependent participants in the resting state. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the cigarette selection preference of the smokers and certain brain regions related to the habitual network. Discussion: This suggests that increased activity of the habitual brain network may be essential in the development of tobacco-dependent behavior.

Cognition, Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor Methylation, and Abstinence Duration-Associated Multimodal Brain Networks in Smoking and Long-Term Smoking Cessation

“…FALFF represents regional power spectrum intensity of spontaneous oscillations in the BOLD signal while participants are at rest (Zou et al, 2008), and can suggest relative intensity of brain activity between groups. While smoker/non-smoker differences have been reported in fALFF (Wang et al, 2017;Tan et al, 2021;Weng et al, 2021), the interaction between fALFF, smoking status, and cognition is unknown. However, a growing literature has investigated the link between fALFF and cognitive impairment, and studies indicate increased fALFF values in the PHG among individuals with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (Zhang et al, 2021).…”