Cigarette craving modulation is more feasible than resistance modulation for heavy cigarette smokers: empirical evidence from functional MRI data
Background
Modulation of cigarette craving and neuronal activations from nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers using real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI)-based neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) has been previously reported.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rtfMRI-NF training in reducing cigarette cravings using fMRI data acquired before and after training.
Methods
Treatment-seeking male heavy cigarette smokers (Nā=ā14) were enrolled and randomly assigned to two conditions related to rtfMRI-NF training aiming at resisting the urge to smoke. In one condition, subjects underwent conventional rtfMRI-NF training using neuronal activity as the neurofeedback signal (activity-based) within regions-of-interest (ROIs) implicated in cigarette craving. In another condition, subjects underwent rtfMRI-NF training with additional functional connectivity information included in the neurofeedback signal (functional connectivity-added). Before and after rtfMRI-NF training at each of two visits, participants underwent two fMRI runs with cigarette smoking stimuli and were asked to crave or resist the urge to smoke without neurofeedback. Cigarette craving-related or resistance-related regions were identified using a general linear model followed by paired t-tests and were evaluated using regression analysis on the basis of neuronal activation and subjective craving scores (CRSs).
Results
Visual areas were mainly implicated in craving, whereas the s...
Source: NeuroReport - Category: Neurology Tags: Integrative Systems Source Type: research
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