Correlation between abnormal brain network activity and electroencephalogram microstates on exposure to smoking-related cues

Hefan Gan; Junjie Bu; Ginger Qinghong Zeng; Huixing Gou; Mengyuan Liu; Guanbao Cui; Xiaochu Zhang

doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.641

BJPsych Open (Mar 2023)

Correlation between abnormal brain network activity and electroencephalogram microstates on exposure to smoking-related cues

Hefan Gan,
Junjie Bu,
Ginger Qinghong Zeng,
Huixing Gou,
Mengyuan Liu,
Guanbao Cui,
Xiaochu Zhang

Affiliations

Hefan Gan: Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Junjie Bu: School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Ginger Qinghong Zeng: Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Huixing Gou: Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Mengyuan Liu: Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Guanbao Cui: Application Technology Center of Physical Therapy to Brain Disorders, Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Xiaochu Zhang: ORCiD; Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Application Technology Center of Physical Therapy to Brain Disorders, Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.641
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9

Abstract

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Background Research into neural mechanisms underlying cue-induced cigarette craving has attracted considerable attention for its significant role in treatments. However, there is little understanding about the effects of exposure to smoking-related cues on electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates of smokers, which can reflect abnormal brain network activity in several psychiatric disorders. Aims To explore whether abnormal brain network activity in smokers on exposure to smoking-related cues would be captured by EEG microstates. Method Forty smokers were exposed to smoking and neutral imagery conditions (cues) during EEG recording. Behavioural data and parameters for microstate topographies associated with the auditory (A), visual (B), salience and memory (C) and dorsal attention networks (D) were compared between conditions. Correlations between microstate parameters and cigarette craving as well as nicotine addiction characteristics were also analysed. Results The smoking condition elicited a significant increase in the duration of microstate classes B and C and in the duration and contribution of class D compared with the neutral condition. A significant positive correlation between the increased duration of class C (smoking minus neutral) and increased craving ratings was observed, which was fully mediated by increased posterior alpha power. The increased duration and contribution of class D were both positively correlated with years of smoking. Conclusions Our results indicate that smokers showed abnormal EEG microstates when exposed to smoking-related cues compared with neutral cues. Importantly, microstate class C (duration) might be a biomarker of cue-induced cigarette craving, and class D (duration and contribution) might reflect the relationship between cue-elicited activation of the dorsal attention network and years of smoking.

Published in BJPsych Open

ISSN: 2056-4724 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system: Psychiatry
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open

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