BIRCWH POSTER ABSTRACTS P-1: Gender and Cue-Induced Imaging in Nicotine Dependence

Background: Tobacco dependence remains a significant public health concern. In the United States, cigarette smoking continues to be the leading preventable cause of mortality, accounting for about one out of every five deaths. Exposure to cues associated with smoking results in behavioral, physiological, and subjective effects, including craving. Smokingrelated craving can precipitate smoking in abstinent smokers. There appear to be important gender differences in smoking behavior and response to nicotine. Objective: This pilot study is designed to increase understanding of the neural circuitry underlying nicotine cue-induced craving and to examine possible gender differences. Method: Nontreatment-seeking nicotine-dependent individuals (five males & five females) and healthy controls (five males & five females) participated in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with the presentation of smoking-related cues. Smoking subjects were asked to be abstinent 12 hours before the scanning session. Subjects were assessed for craving, nicotine withdrawal, and CO levels. Results: Preliminary data suggest activation in the ACC, NA, & amygdala with cue presentation in smokers, but not in healthy controls. Conclusion: Given the aforementioned differences in brain activity between smokers and healthy controls, the role of gender in activation patterns will also be explored.