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Amygdala Structural Connectivity Is Associated With Impulsive Choice and Difficulty Quitting Smoking
Ausaf A Bari1, Hiro Sparks1, Simon Levinson1
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|July 28, 2020
Summary
Brain connectivity involving the amygdala influences reward preferences and smoking difficulty. Specific pathways link to valuing future rewards and immediate gratification, impacting nicotine dependence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Addiction Research
Background:
- The amygdala is implicated in emotion processing and addiction.
- Understanding its structural connectivity to the brain reward network is crucial for addiction research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between amygdala structural connectivity and impulsive choice.
- To explore the relationship between amygdala connectivity and tobacco smoking behavior.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion and structural MRI scans from 197 healthy subjects were analyzed.
- Probabilistic tractography (PT) assessed amygdala connectivity with key brain regions.
- Connectivity data were correlated with performance on a delayed discounting task and smoking cessation difficulty.
Main Results:
- Amygdala connectivity showed distinct patterns with the hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and brainstem.
- Hippocampal connectivity correlated with preference for delayed rewards; OFC, rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), and insula connectivity correlated with immediate reward preference.
- Reduced hippocampal and increased brainstem connectivity were linked to greater nicotine dependence and difficulty quitting; FTND scores correlated with rACC connectivity.
Conclusions:
- The amygdala-hippocampal-anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) network is vital for future reward valuation and substance dependence.
- Findings suggest potential targets for neuromodulatory therapies for addiction.
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