Young adult smokers may experience alterations in brain structure related to cigarette exposure, dependence, and craving. The brain structure of adults has been shown to vary with smoking status, particularly in the insula—a part of the cerebral cortex involved in monitoring internal states and decision-making. In a study published in Neuropsychopharmacology, Dr. Edythe London and colleagues took smoking histories, assessed cigarette craving and dependence, and examined the insula using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 16-22-year-old participants. The results suggest that participants with greater smoking exposure had more severe nicotine dependence, more cigarette craving, and less insular thickness than those with less exposure.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.