Scientists Tie Part of Brain to Urge to Smoke

Scientists that were recently studying brain activity in stroke patients are now reporting that damage to the insula, part of the brain that is near the ear, can instantly and permanently stop a patient's urge to smoke cigarrettes. Scientists also believe that if this part of the brain involves maintaining smoking habits that it potentially could also effect alcoholism, and drug dependencies. Other habits, like eating, were still intact suggesting that the insula effects learned habits that the body views as pleasure. Dr. Domas a leading researcher in the insula area of the brain suggests that “[i]t is on this platform that we first anticipate pain and pleasure, not just smoking but eating chocolate, drinking a glass of wine, all of it.” All of these learned habits just like smoking and drug use are viewed as pleasurable to the body and "have taken hold in the visceral reaches of the body well before they are even conscious." This discovery of how the insula can effect habits could lead scientists to develop new strategies in overcoming the addiction of smoking. The researchers are not saying that ablation of the insula is the best way to quit, but that treatments that focus on affecting this part of the brain could aid in the battle against addiction.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/science/25cnd-brain.html?em&ex=1170219600&en=bd948885d5abadba&ei=5087%0A