Altered spontaneous activity in young chronic cigarette smokers revealed by regional homogeneity

Jinsong Tang,Yanhui Liao,Xuyi Wang,Xiaojun Xiang,Qijian Deng,Hongxian Chen,Wei Hao,Tieqiao Liu,Xiaogang Chen

doi:10.1186/1744-9081-8-44

Abstract

BackgroundFew studies have been previously published about the resting state brain activity in young chronic smokers, although many previous fMRI studies have shown that the task-related activity pattern is altered in chronic smokers.MethodsIn the present study, forty-five healthy smokers (age: 27.9 ± 5.6 year) and forty-four healthy non-smoking control subjects (age: 26.3 ± 5.8 year) have been imaged with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and analyzed with the regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, decreased ReHo was found in smokers in the right inferior frontal cortex and increased ReHo was found in the left superior parietal lobe (P < 0.01, 35 Voxels,Alphasim corrected).ConclusionsOur data suggested that, during resting state, neural function is less synchronized in the right inferior frontal cortex and more synchronized in the left superior parietal lobe in chronic smokers compared to non-smokers. The decreased synchronization in the right inferior frontal cortex may reflect lacking of control over reward-related behavior, and the increased synchronization may reflect smoking urges.

Highlights

Few studies have been previously published about the resting state brain activity in young chronic smokers, many previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that the task-related activity pattern is altered in chronic smokers
Our data suggested that, during resting state, neural function is less synchronized in the right inferior frontal cortex and more synchronized in the left superior parietal lobe in chronic smokers compared to nonsmokers
The decreased synchronization in the right inferior frontal cortex may reflect lacking of control over reward-related behavior, and the increased synchronization may reflect smoking urges

Summary

Introduction

Few studies have been previously published about the resting state brain activity in young chronic smokers, many previous fMRI studies have shown that the task-related activity pattern is altered in chronic smokers. Chronic smoking in China causes a million deaths a year [2]. Total worldwide smoking related deaths are projected to rise from 5.4 million in 2005 to 6.4 million in 2030 [3]. Many functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have been performed to examine the effects of acute nicotine administration in smokers and non-smokers. A common finding from acute administration of nicotine/smoking is the globally reduced brain activity [4]. Only a few studies [5,6,7] reported alteration of brain function activity during resting state in chronic smokers.

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