Hey, sometimes getting in there may be the only answer

There’s a part of the brain that may cause the physical craving for a cigarette:

Nasir Naqvoi at the University of Iowa and Antoine Bechara at the brain and creativity institute at the University of Southern California have since identified other patients who quit smoking suddenly after experiencing similar brain damage.

The discovery gives neuroscientists fresh insight into the complex neurological circuitry of the addiction. While neurosurgeons are not about to tackle smoking addiction with a scalpel, it may give scientists clues for developing drugs to combat addicts’ urges.

I think they forget the psychological habit many people have — it’s not just an addiction to nicotine that keeps many puffing away, as I know all too well. So can we find that bit in the brain, too?

• 14 Feb 2007

• Thinking