12h abstinence-induced right anterior insula network pattern changes in young smokers.

BACKGROUND

The strong craving to smoke is a core factor of smoking abstinence that precipitates relapse. Insula plays critical roles in maintaining nicotine dependence, especially in the interoceptive awareness of craving. Despite evidence indicating a link between insula and abstinence-induced craving, less is known about the neural basis of abstinence-induced craving from the circuit level of insula.

METHODS

The present study examined the effects of 12h of abstinence from smoking on the resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) of anterior (AI) and posterior insula in young smokers using a within-subject design. Thirty-three young male smokers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning on two separate sessions: (1) smoking satiety and (2) abstinence (after ≥12h of smoking deprivation), in counterbalanced order. Multiple regression analysis was applied to investigate the possible relationships between the RSFC changes of insula (abstinence minus satiety) and the abstinence-induced craving changes.

RESULTS

Smoking abstinence state (versus satiety) was associated with increased RSFC between right AI and right medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex as well as anterior cingulate cortex. The abstinence-induced RSFC changes between right AI and right lateral OFC was significantly correlated with the craving changes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings improve the understanding of the effects of short-term smoking abstinence on insula circuit connectivity and may contribute new insights into the neural basis of abstinence-induced craving to smoke.