Craving-induced EEG reactivity in smokers: effects of mood induction, nicotine dependence and gender.
OBJECTIVE
Cigarette craving is a core symptom of smoking withdrawal, which is more intense and more frequently observed in smokers with depressed mood. Using self-reports and electroencephalographic (EEG) indices of frontal hemispheric asymmetry, which has been shown to be sensitive to mood states, the purpose of this study was to investigate the neural basis of cue-elicited cigarette craving, its variation with experimentally induced depressed mood, and with differences in gender and smoker type.


METHODS
Cigarette-cue reactivity was examined in 11 (5 male) regular and 11 (6 male) light smokers in two sessions involving the induction of neutral or depressed mood.


RESULTS
Frontal EEG alpha asymmetry changes reflecting left frontal hypoactivation were evident with cigarette-cue exposure, particularly in female smokers. During cigarette-cue exposure, EEG evidenced both decreases and increases in brain state activation, with the latter activational increments also being influenced by depressed mood. Exposure to the cigarette cue, in addition to increasing withdrawal symptoms, increased cravings and negative affect, these latter effects being more evident in female and regular smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings, which appear to provide a physiological basis for 'withdrawal-like' negative affective experiences during craving, are discussed in relation to theories of drug reinforcement and smoking motivation.
Knott
Verner J
VJ
Clinical Neuroelectrophysiology and Cognitive Research Laboratory, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. vknott@rohcg.on.ca
Naccache
Luma
L
Cyr
Emmanuelle
E
Fisher
Derek J
DJ
McIntosh
Judy F
JF
Millar
Anne M
AM
Villeneuve
Crystal M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003463:Cues; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult