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Altered brain functional networks in heavy smokers
Fuchun Lin1, Guangyao Wu2, Ling Zhu2
1Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
Addiction Biology
|June 26, 2014
Summary
Heavy smokers exhibit altered brain network organization, showing less efficient brain architecture. Chronic cigarette use disrupts the brain's functional network topology, impacting cognitive processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Cigarette smoking is linked to changes in brain structure and function.
- Limited understanding exists regarding alterations in brain functional network topology among heavy smokers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the topological organization of whole-brain functional networks in heavy smokers compared to non-smokers.
- To explore the relationship between altered network metrics and smoking-related variables.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in 31 heavy smokers and 33 non-smokers.
- Whole-brain functional networks were constructed and their topological properties analyzed using graph network analysis.
- Statistical analyses included non-parametric permutation tests and multiple regression.
Main Results:
- Heavy smokers displayed altered network topology, including lower global efficiency, higher local efficiency, increased clustering coefficients, and greater path length compared to non-smokers.
- Heavy smokers showed decreased nodal global efficiency in default mode network regions and increased nodal local efficiency in visual-related regions.
- Altered network metrics correlated with smoking duration and nicotine dependence severity.
Conclusions:
- Heavy smoking is associated with less efficient brain network architecture and disruptions in topological organization.
- Findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological effects of chronic smoking and nicotine dependence pathophysiology.
