Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Graduate Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Chang Gung University, 33302, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Medical Imaging Research Center, Institute for Radiological Research, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, 33302, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Brain Imaging Behav. 2022 Aug;16(4):1761-1775. doi: 10.1007/s11682-022-00647-4. Epub 2022 Mar 16.
An association has been shown between chronic cigarette smoking and structural abnormalities in the brain areas related to several functions relevant to addictive behavior. However, few studies have focused on the structural alternations of chronic smoking by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Also, it remains unclear how structural alternations are associated with tobacco-dependence severity and the positive/negative outcome expectances. The q-sampling imaging (GQI) is an advanced diffusion MRI technique that can reconstruct more precise and consistent images of complex oriented fibers than other methods. We aimed to use GQI to evaluate the impact of the neurological structure caused by chronic smoking. Sixty-seven chronic smokers and 43 nonsmokers underwent a MRI scan. The tobacco dependence severity and the positive/negative outcome expectancies were assessed via self-report. We used GQI with voxel-based statistical analysis (VBA) to evaluate structural brain and connectivity abnormalities. Graph theoretical analysis (GTA) and network-based statistical (NBS) analysis were also performed to identify the structural network differences among groups. Chronic smokers had smaller GM and WM volumes in the bilateral frontal lobe and bilateral frontal region. The GM/WM volumes correlated with dependence severity and outcome expectancies in the brain areas involving high-level functions. Chronic smokers had shape changes in the left hippocampal head and tail and the inferior brain stem. Poorer WM integrity in chronic smokers was found in the left middle frontal region, the right superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, the right temporal region, the left parahippocampus, the left anterior internal capsule, and the right inferior parietal region. WM integrity correlated with dependence severity and outcome expectancies in brain areas involving high-level functions. Chronic smokers had decreased local segregation and global integration among the brain regions and networks. Our results provide further evidence indicating that chronic smoking may be associated with brain structure and connectivity changes.
慢性吸烟与与成瘾行为相关的几个功能的大脑区域的结构异常之间存在关联。然而，很少有研究使用磁共振成像（MRI）来关注慢性吸烟的结构改变。此外，结构改变与烟草依赖严重程度以及积极/消极结果预期之间的关系仍不清楚。q-采样成像（GQI）是一种先进的扩散 MRI 技术，它可以比其他方法更精确和一致地重建复杂取向纤维的图像。我们旨在使用 GQI 评估慢性吸烟引起的神经结构的影响。67 名慢性吸烟者和 43 名不吸烟者接受了 MRI 扫描。通过自我报告评估烟草依赖严重程度和积极/消极结果预期。我们使用 GQI 与基于体素的统计分析（VBA）来评估大脑结构和连接异常。还进行了图论分析（GTA）和基于网络的统计（NBS）分析，以识别组间结构网络差异。慢性吸烟者双侧额叶和双侧额区的 GM 和 WM 体积较小。GM/WM 体积与大脑区域的依赖严重程度和结果预期相关，涉及高级功能。慢性吸烟者的左侧海马头和尾部以及下脑干部位发生了形状变化。慢性吸烟者左额中回、右额顶枕束、右颞叶、左海马旁回、左内囊前肢和右下顶叶的 WM 完整性较差。WM 完整性与大脑区域的依赖严重程度和结果预期相关，涉及高级功能。慢性吸烟者大脑区域和网络之间的局部隔离和全局整合降低。我们的研究结果进一步表明，慢性吸烟可能与大脑结构和连接变化有关。
