title: Increased Functional Connectivity in an Insula-Based Network is Associated with Improved Smoking Cessation Outcomes.
abstract: Little is known regarding the underlying neurobiology of smoking cessation. Neuroimaging studies indicate a role for the insula in connecting the interoceptive awareness of tobacco craving with a larger brain network that motivates smoking. We investigated differences in insula-based functional connectivity between smokers who did not relapse during a quit attempt vs those who relapsed. Smokers (n=85) underwent a resting-state functional connectivity scan and were then randomized into two groups (either smoking usual brand cigarettes or smoking very low nicotine cigarettes plus nicotine replacement therapy) for 30 days before their target quit date. Following the quit date, all participants received nicotine replacement therapy and their smoking behavior was observed for 10 weeks. Participants were subsequently classified as nonrelapsed (n=44) or relapsed (i.e., seven consecutive days of smoking ⩾1 cigarette/day; n=41). The right and left insula, as well as insula subdivisions (posterior, ventroanterior, and dorsoanterior) were used as seed regions of interest in the connectivity analysis. Using the right and left whole-insula seed regions, the nonrelapsed group had greater functional connectivity than the relapsed group with the bilateral pre- and postcentral gyri. This effect was isolated to the right and left posterior insula seed regions. Our results suggest that relapse vulnerability is associated with weaker connectivity between the posterior insula and primary sensorimotor cortices. Perhaps greater connectivity in this network improves the ability to inhibit a motor response to cigarette cravings when those cravings conflict with a goal to remain abstinent. These results are consistent with recent studies demonstrating a positive relationship between insula-related functional connectivity and cessation likelihood among neurologically intact smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.|Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Merideth A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Addicott
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.|Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Maggie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sweitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Froeliger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jed E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.|Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: McClernon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D012146:Rest; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult