Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Overactivation of the Habitual Control Brain System in Tobacco Dependence

Qiaowen Tan; Shaoke Li; Juan Niu; Shien Liu; Yaling Li; Yujie Lu; Zhihong Wang; Wanqun Xu; Yalin Wei; Zongjun Guo

doi:10.2147/NDT.S334403

Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Overactivation of the Habitual Control Brain System in Tobacco Dependence

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2021 Dec 19:17:3753-3768. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S334403. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Qiaowen Tan¹, Shaoke Li², Juan Niu³, Shien Liu², Yaling Li¹, Yujie Lu¹, Zhihong Wang¹, Wanqun Xu¹, Yalin Wei¹, Zongjun Guo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
³ Clinical Psychology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Introduction: We studied the regulatory mechanism of the habitual brain network in tobacco dependence to provide a theoretical basis for the regulation and cessation of tobacco dependence.

Methods: We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) of the habitual brain network in tobacco-dependent subjects and to evaluate the relationship between the FC level and tobacco selection preference behavior. In total, 29 male tobacco-dependent participants and 28 male nonsmoking participants were recruited. rs-fMRI was used to collect blood oxygen level-dependent signals of the participants in the resting and awake states. After rs-fMRI, all subjects completed cigarette/coin selection tasks (task 1 and task 2).

Results: Compared with the control group, the tobacco dependence group showed increased fractional amplitude values of fALFF in the left posterior cingulate cortex and right parahippocampus. FC in the tobacco-dependent group was increased in the right inferior temporal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left cingulated gyrus, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus, compared with that in the control group. Moreover, the preference selection behavior was associated with the enhancement of FC about parts of the brain regions in the habitual brain network of the tobacco-dependent participants. Thus, habitual network activity was significantly enhanced in tobacco-dependent participants in the resting state. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the cigarette selection preference of the smokers and certain brain regions related to the habitual network.

Discussion: This suggests that increased activity of the habitual brain network may be essential in the development of tobacco-dependent behavior.

Keywords: behavioral decision preference; fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations; functional connectivity; habitual brain network; resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging; tobacco dependence.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant No. ZR2012HM049) and the Foundation Program of Technology Bureau of Qingdao (Grant No. 15-9-2-74-nsh; Grant No. KZJ-28) and the Foundation Program of Technology Bureau of Huangdao District of Qingdao (Grant No. 2014-1-73).