All in the mind: the study that could help treat addiction by looking at the wiring in drinkers’ and smokers’ brains
- Joint study by British and Chinese scientists suggests drinkers are more likely to be motivated by reward, but smokers have a greater tendency towards impulsive behaviour
People with a tendency to drink or smoke may be driven by the wiring in different parts of the brain, according to a study by Chinese and British researchers that could provide important clues to help treat addiction.
The study found that smokers’ neural patterns indicated that they were more impulsive. By contrast, drinkers showed increased activity in a different part of the brain that suggested they may be more motivated by the rewards associated with drinking alcohol.
The study, conducted by Fudan University in Shanghai and Warwick University, looked at the connectivity patterns in the brains of 2,000 participants.
Cheng Wei, one of the lead researchers from Fudan University, said the study, published in eLife on Tuesday, was the first to highlight the differences in the brain’s functional connectivity found in smokers and drinkers.
“What we have found can be a base for clinical or pharmaceutical research in identifying targets, to alter addicts’ behaviours,” Cheng continued.