Posted on 01/26/2007 10:04:33 AM PST by The Raven
SCIENTISTS have pinpointed the source of nicotine addiction — a 2.5-centimetre-wide pleasure centre deep in the brain.
The insula, a small island in the cerebral cortex, has been described as a "platform for feelings and emotion".
Researchers found that smokers who suffered damage to this part of the brain were able to quit quickly and easily.
They suspect the insula may also be involved in other forms of addictive behaviour that keep people hooked on drugs or excessive eating.
Understanding the link could lead to new ways to deal with addiction.
The discovery emerged after US scientists learned of a heavy smoker whose dependency was broken after a stroke damaged his insula.
The man, who had smoked 40 cigarettes a day, quit immediately. He told researchers that his body "forgot the urge to smoke".
An investigation of 69 brain-damaged smokers then revealed 19 with insula injury. Of these, 13 had also given up, all but one without any difficulty. The researchers do not know why the six others failed to quit.
The study leader, Antoine Bechara, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, said: "One of the most difficult problems in any form of addiction is the difficulty in stopping the urge to smoke, to take a drug, or to eat for that matter.
"Now we have identified a brain target for further research into dealing with that urge."
The insula receives information from other parts of the body and is thought to help translate those signals into something subjectively felt, such as hunger, pain, or a craving.
In the 1990s, a neuroscientist, Antonio Damasio, first suggested that the insula was a platform for feelings and emotion.
"It's really intriguing to think that disrupting this region breaks the pleasure feelings associated with smoking," he said.
Compared with other brain regions, the insula has not attracted much attention from addiction researchers.
But some imaging studies have shown that the region is activated by drug-associated cues, such as the sight of people taking drugs, or drug-taking equipment such as spoons, syringes and "roll-up" paper.
Any anti-smoking treatment aimed at the insula would have to preserve the brain region's beneficial functions.
But Dr Bechara points out that the insula appears to be involved specifically with "learned behaviours", rather than fundamental drives necessary for survival. He believes it might be possible to target one without disrupting the other.
The findings were reported this week in the journal Science. Peter Stern, the journal's senior editor, said: "This kind of study is quite forward-looking. In addition to investigating a basic scientific mechanism underlying drug addiction, these authors have come up with innovative ideas about how we may be able to treat addiction and prevent relapse."
It takes a while for Chantix to build up to working strenght in your body...that's why you don't stop smoking for a week.
Oh get off your high horse anti!
I commend anyone who wants to lose weight, run in marathons, stop drinking and quit smoking!
So you come to a thread where a number of FReepers have expressed their struggle with smoking and their desire to quit. And you help them how? You pimp your addiction.
Oh excuse me. But we ping everyone on the puff list for any article of interest to smokers. Who knows, maybe someone on the puff list "wants" to quit smoking.
AND............you being one of the biggest ANTI'S in Free Republic never hesitate to jump in on OUR threads to bash and trash us.
I expect nothing less of you WEEEEEEEEEEEE.
OK, the suspense is killing me. How is the Chantix working for you guys?
This weekend will be the quit. How are you doing KoRn?
A ping to Chantix update on Post #106.
Good to hear you're making improvements.
Is this Chantix expensive?
Check with your local pharmacy for cost.
I'm very pleased to report the same. I'm probably smoking 30-40% less without effort. I've been working with their online support program which seems to be very helpful. I used to practically chain smoke while driving. Today I had a two hour drive and didn't smoke the first one! This is looking very promising. Sunday is my first day smoke free, and I can't wait!!
hey thanks for remembering me!
i have an appt to get the prescription monday,its really encouraging that its happening with out really thinking about it for you guys. thats the hardest part for me. the more i think about not smoking the more i smoke. weird i know!
any side effects. are there any health restriction, drug interactions or anything that goes along with it?
the patch gave me bad bad dreams and the gum was just nasty!
I've been purposefully putting myself in situations where I'm psychologically tempted to smoke, and deprive my mind of it. I find that when I successfully do it, my mind is free from wanting to smoke in that situation. I got this from the support program. Fight those psychological triggers!!
This drug, combined with the support program is a miracle for me. I'm glad to see you are getting favorable results as well.
The first time I took it I got a pretty good buzz, but it never returned with subsequent doses. I think it may make me slightly depressed, but that's about it. Nothing major. To work this well for quitting smoking, I'm willing to accept some pretty significant side effects, but anything I've gotten from this has been virtually nonexistent to very minor. Except for that great first pill buzz.(too bad they all don't to it) lol
LOL that would be a nice regular side effect for sure! quit smoking and feel really happy doing it;)
will you guys be posting back to this thread on your quit days?
I quit smoking(cold turkey) in 1995,between 1995 and 2005...my weight ballooned from around 230 to 293. What happens, is your taste sensation comes back...and everything tastes good. You can only imagine what happens when you trade one addiction for another!
I got desparate, and started smoking again and dropped 65 lbs.
I need an appetite suppresant that works!
Dreams. I've had two short weird dreams this week that I put off to the Chintex as I never dream. Not bad dreams, just weird dreams. (aren't they all?)
Side effects are about the most minimal I've ever seen on any drug. Your doctor will be able to tell you more and advise you.
Stay in touch!
Hi Randy - Wicked cycle, isn't it? My taste buds never left me. :o) But what I have figured out about myself is that my favorite cigarette is after I eat. I would eat soley for the smoke afterward. Actually I have lost weight during my non-smoking periods.
Sure! If I'm not in jail for homicide or too drunk to type. =)
I just went to the website and started educating myself on why weight gain happens...very good info, tough to follow the plan though!
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