title: Sex Effects on Smoking Cue Perception in Non-Smokers, Smokers, and Ex-Smokers: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent neuroimaging research suggests sex-related brain differences in smoking addiction. In the present pilot study, we assessed gender-related differences in brain activation in response to cigarette-related video cues, investigating non-smokers, smokers, and ex-smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, we compared 29 females (28.6 ± 5.3) vs. 23 males (31.5 ± 6.4), regardless of current smoking status to assess global gender-related effects. Second, we performed apost hocanalysis of non-smokers (9 females and 8 males), smokers (10 females and 8 males), and ex-smokers (10 females and 7 males). Participants performed a block-design functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm contrasting smoking with control cue video exposures. Data analyses included task-related general linear model, voxel-based morphometry of gray matter (GM), and tract-based spatial statistics of white matter (WM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  First, the global effect regardless of current smoking status revealed higher activation in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) for females compared to males. Second, the analysis according to current smoking status demonstrated higher activation in female vs. male smokers vs. non-smokers in the superior frontal gyrus, anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus, and higher activation in female vs. male ex-smokers vs. non-smokers in the right precentral gyrus, in the right insula and ACC. No structural differences were found in GM or WM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study identifies gender-related brain functional differences in smokers and ex-smokers compared to non-smokers. The current work can be considered as a starting point for future investigations into gender differences in brain responses to cigarette-related cues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zanchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Research, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.affiliation: Affidea Centre de Diagnostic Radiologique de Carouge CDRC, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haller
keywords: fMRI; females; males; nicotine; sex; tobacco