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."
Above all else the main difference is the culture of today. Everything is supposed to be easy now. Remember? Hell, they even have pills for guys who...umm, can't function as they used to. What did those guys do when they didn't have those pills to take?
I'd say in those days not many people quit smoking like they do today. Smokes were very inexpensive, people didn't fully appreciate the health hazards, and it was considered normal for people to smoke in public without being treated like some kind of radioactive agent. I've also read that tobacco products weren't as addictive back then because they weren't as 'enhanced' as they are now.
Speaking from a family of nurses...chronic smokers run the risk of setting folks on fire if there is oxygen anywhere near. They are protecting lives. Please don't be so self-centered. Nurses are looking out for the good of ALL...not just YOU.
They are probably welcoming it. The most litigious society on the planet are quitting their marginally dangerous products. They are probably loving this.
Of course they are loving this because due to free trade, the third world are probably smoking like chimneys and getting hooked more than we ever did for a good ol' 50cents per pack without ant threat of lawsuits. lol
You've missed my point altogether...........I had no desire to smoke but they refused to take me at my word.
Same for me. I wasn't going to quit until I found something that would make me WANT to quit, or at least not want to smoke.
And patches and gum weren't it.
I admire those who did it through sheer willpower. Stronger people than I am, I can tell you. That's why I got this stuff.
BTW, today is my quit day. Haven't had a cigarette since last night, and it's been remarkably easy. Occasional split second cravings that go away as quickly as they come up. I'm not sitting around dwelling on it, I'm not antsy, I'm not irritable.
I am pounding the coffee, but I suspect that's because my body is craving a stimulant to replace the nicotine. In fact, I've heard a lot of people say that the Chantix makes them sleepy, especially when they go to the second week, but the fact is, that's also when they quit smoking, and they're bodies are used to having that extra kick that nicotine provides.
BTW, that coffee is good! Thought it would seem pointless without cigarettes, but I've had four cups today (made it half caff) and it seems to taste better than usual.
Well, went off the Chantix half way through the second month. Still haven’t smoked; the cravings are almost completely gone. Eating more, and I have noticed that I have a little more of a temper. Apparently, nicotine mellowed me out quite a bit more than I realized.
But, this has been far easier than I even imagined. Thanks again to all of you who suggested this, and I hope you guys are having as much success as I am.
Good for you !!!
In the mean time-—I got my dentist to quit
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