Smoking and Neuroimaging: A Review

Cigarette smoking is a significant public health concern, often resulting in nicotine dependence, a chronic-relapsing psychiatric diagnosis that is responsible for up to 10% of the global cardiovascular disease burden. Due to its significantly deleterious effects on health, much research has been dedicated to elucidating the underlying neurobiology of smoking. This brief article is intended to provide a digestible synopsis of the considerable research being conducted on the underlying neural bases of cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence, especially for cardiologists who are often at the front lines of treating nicotine dependence. To this end, we first review some of the most common neuroimaging methodologies used in the study of smoking, as well as the most recent findings from this exciting area of research. Then, we focus on several fundamental topics including the acute pharmacological effects, acute neurocognitive effects, and the long-term neurobiological effects associated with smoking. We finally review recent findings regarding the neuropsychological processes associated with smoking cessation, including cue-induced craving and regulation of craving. Research in this field beginning to uncover how some of these neuropsychological processes are similar across clinical disorders which cardiologists also encounter frequently, such as craving for food resulting in overeating. We conclude with recommendations for future neuroimaging work on these topics.