Self‐efficacy modulates the neural correlates of craving in male smokers and ex‐smokers: an fMRI study. (7th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ono, Miki; Kochiyama, Takanori; Fujino, Junya; Sozu, Takashi; Kawada, Ryosaku; Yokoyama, Naoto; Sugihara, Genichi; Murai, Toshiya; Takahashi, Hidehiko
• Is Part Of: Addiction biology. Volume 23:Number 5(2018)
• Page Start: 1179
• Page End: 1188
• Publication Date: 2017-09-07
• Subjects: fMRI -- self‐efficacy -- smoking; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/adb.12555
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-6215

Abstract

Abstract: The regulation of cue‐induced craving for cigarettes is a key factor in smoking cessation. Outcomes of smoking cessation have been linked to self‐efficacy, faith in one's own ability, in smokers. However, no study has examined the neural basis of self‐efficacy during the control of craving. We examined whether self‐efficacy can affect the neural response to smoking cues in smokers and ex‐smokers using functional magnetic resonance imaging. During scanning, participants were instructed (1) to view smoking‐related images passively, (2) to view the smoking‐related images with a strategy focused on self‐efficacy to control cue‐induced craving or (3) to view neutral images. In smokers, the self‐efficacy strategy significantly reduced self‐reported craving. This strategy was related to increased activation in the rostral medial prefrontal cortex (rmPFC) and the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in smokers compared with ex‐smokers. Furthermore, smokers showed increased effective connectivity between rmPFC and hippocampus and between pregenual anterior cingulate cortex and parahippocampus gyrus when employing the self‐efficacy strategy compared with ex‐smokers. The magnitude of the rmPFC–hippocampus connectivity was positively correlated with self‐reported self‐efficacy. Our findings suggest that in smokers, self‐efficacy is related to activation and connectivity in brain regions involved in regulating craving and self‐assessment. The current study provides evidence for understanding the vunderlying cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms involved in the control of craving to smoke cigarettes. Abstract : We examined whether self‐efficacy can affect the neural response to smoking cues in smokers and ex‐smokers using functional magnetic resonance imaging. In smokers, the self‐efficacy strategy was related to increased activation in the rostral medial prefrontal cortex (rmPFC) and the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and increased connectivity between rmPFC and hippocampus and between pgACC and parahippocampus gyrus. Our findings suggest that in smokers, self‐efficacy is related to activation and connectivity in brain regions involved in regulating craving and self‐assessment.