Tobacco Science SITAB 37_2012

Numerous research groups are now using analysis of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) results and relaying back information about regional activity in their brains to participants in the scanner in 'real time'. In this study, we explored the feasibility of self-regulation of frontal cortical activation using real-time fMRI (rtfMRI) neurofeedback in nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers during exposure to smoking cues. Ten cigarette smokers were shown smoking-related visual cues in a 3 Tesla MRI scanner to induce their nicotine craving. Participants were instructed to modify their craving using rtfMRI feedback with two different approaches. In a 'reduce craving' paradigm, participants were instructed to 'reduce' their craving, and decrease the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity. In a separate 'increase resistance' paradigm, participants were asked to increase their resistance to craving and to increase middle prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity. We found that participants were able to significantly reduce the BOLD signal in the ACC during the 'reduce craving' task (P = 0.028). There was a significant correlation between decreased ACC activation and reduced craving ratings during the 'reduce craving' session (P = 0.011). In contrast, there was no modulation of the BOLD signal in mPFC during the 'increase resistance' session. These preliminary results suggest that some smokers may be able to use neurofeedback via rtfMRI to voluntarily regulate ACC activation and temporarily reduce smoking cue-induced craving. Further research is needed to determine the optimal parameters of neurofeedback rtfMRI, and whether it might eventually become a therapeutic tool for nicotine dependence. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1369-1600.2012.... AIDS Educ Prev Villanti Smoking, HIV Status, and HIV Risk Behaviors in a Respondent-Driven Sample of Injection Drug Users in Baltimore, Maryland: The BeSure Study AIDS Education and Prevention Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 132-147. Tobacco Science Globalink Medical Journal Update N. 37 13 aprile 2012 Editor: Giacomo Mangiaracina. Editorial board: Massimo Baraldo, Fabio Beatrice, M aria Sofia Cattaruzza, Fabio Lugoboni, Nolita Pulerà, Biagio Tinghino, Vincenzo Zagà, Francesca Zucchetta. Newsletter of The Italian Society of Tobaccology www.tabaccologia.it 37 2012