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.

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The 2014 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews is entitled Biomolecular Discovery: Mechanisms, Therapeutics, and Biomarkers in Neural Disorders. The articles in this issue focus on recent advances in the detection, subtyping and monitoring of complex neural disease progression, the definition of new molecular targets for therapeutic intervention and biomarkers, with an emphasis on the use of genome-wide analytical technologies.

In this podcast, the editors of this year's volume, Carol Nilsson and Kathryn Cunningham, provide an overview of the topic.

Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews: http://www.nature.com/nppr/index.html

The 2014 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews is entitled Biomolecular Discovery: Mechanisms, Therapeutics, and Biomarkers in Neural Disorders. The articles in this issue focus on recent advances in the detection, subtyping and monitoring of complex neural disease progression, the definition of new molecular targets for therapeutic intervention and biomarkers, with an emphasis on the use of genome-wide analytical technologies.In this podcast, the editors of this year's volume, Carol Nilsson and Kathryn Cunningham, provide an overview of the topic.

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Up to 25% of women in the U.S., Denmark and Sweden report smoking during pregnancy, despite associations of prenatal tobacco exposure with negative behavioral and cognitive outcomes. Hanan El Marroun and colleagues assessed brain morphology along with behavioral and emotional functioning of children whose mothers reported smoking in a range from one cigarette a day to more than 9 cigarettes per day during pregnancy. The results suggest that children whose mothers continued smoking have smaller total brain volumes, with smaller cortical gray and white matter volumes in particular, and exhibit more emotional problems, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety.

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Up to 25% of women in the U.S., Denmark and Sweden report smoking during pregnancy, despite associations of prenatal tobacco exposure with negative behavioral and cognitive outcomes. Hanan El Marroun and colleagues assessed brain morphology along with behavioral and emotional functioning of children whose mothers reported smoking in a range from one cigarette a day to more than 9 cigarettes per day during pregnancy. The results suggest that children whose mothers continued smoking have smaller total brain volumes, with smaller cortical gray and white matter volumes in particular, and exhibit more emotional problems, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety.

Although psychostimulant abusers comprise one of the fastest growing populations of HIV-infected patients, relatively little is known about how HIV may impact the rewarding effects of abused drugs. Dr. Jay P. McLaughlin discusses how a protein associated with HIV infection, called HIV-1 Tat, may increase vulnerability for drug addiction. His research shows that mice who express HIV-1 Tat display an enhanced sensitivity to the rewarding properties of cocaine. The results suggest that just as addiction raises the risk of HIV, HIV may raise the risk of addiction.

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Dr. David Kareken discusses how the urge to drink can be triggered by sensory cues alone. His latest research showed that a dopamine reaction took place in the brain when men were given a small amount of alcohol - enough to taste, but not enough to become intoxicated. The reaction was stronger in those with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. This suggests that dopamine is involved in the desire to use a drug, even before the effects of the drug are felt, and that drug-seeking behavior can be triggered by a related environment.

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Epigenetics is the modification of genetic expression without changing the underlying DNA, or how environment affects genetic potential. It is highly involved in learning and memory, as well as maladaptations caused by stress or drug abuse. Dr. Eric Nestler, one of the editors of this year's Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews, provides an overview of the topic here, including the somewhat controversial theory of epigenetic heritability.

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Mephedrone and methylone are types of synthetic stimulant drugs that have been sold legally under names such as "bath salts" or "plant food". They can have a number of dangerous side effects, such as agitation, combativeness, and hallucinations. A recent court ruling has made many of these synthetic drugs illegal, but new variations continue to be available. In this latest podcast, Dr. Michael Baumann discusses the mechanism of action of "bath salts", their chemical similarity to MDMA, and the dangers of their use.

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The brain is a daunting therapeutic challenge. This year's edition of Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews provides an update on treatments for brain disorders ranging from schizophrenia to neurodegeneration. Join Kerri Smith as she talks to Gwenn Smith, editor of this year's volume, about current therapies such as drugs, electrical stimulation and cognitive therapies, and the future of neurotherapeutics in an era of uncertain funding.

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