Correlations between orbitofrontal dysfunction and tobacco smoking

Orbitofrontal cortex is involved in various reward and reinforcement processes in the human brain. There is both anatomical and functional evidence for a dysfunction of orbitofrontal cortex in substance abusers, and nicotine has been shown to activate reward-related structures in the brain similarly to other abused drugs. This study shows positive correlations between smoking parameters (smoking status and packs smoked per day) and impairment on putative measures of orbitofrontal dysfunction (go/no-go, antisaccades, delayed alternation and impulsivity ratings). While causality could not be determined, other research suggests that an orbitofrontal dysfunction predisposes one toward tobacco abuse.