Functional Neuroimaging of Reward Processing in Smokers: The influence of stimulus content and study design in fMRI on activation of the brain reward system in smokers - Softcover

Bühler, Mira

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3639123573 ISBN 13: 9783639123579

Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2009

Synopsis

Nicotine like several other drugs of abuse acts on the brain reward system. Altered function of the mesocorticolimbic system has been associated with the transition from controlled drug intake to a compulsive, uncontrolled drug consumption characterizing addicted behavior. This study was performed using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) (i) to investigate changes in brain activity in the reward system in response to different stimulus categories including non-substance related motivational stimuli (erotic stimuli, beautiful faces) and substance related stimuli (smoking-related stimuli) compared to neutral stimuli; (ii) to find out which category of non-substance related motivational stimuli, beautiful faces or erotic stimuli, leads to a stronger activation in the regions of interest; and (iii) to determine the influence of two different experimental fMRI designs, a blocked and an event-related design, on activation patterns in the brain reward system.

About this title

About the Author

Graduated in Psychology (Dipl.-Psych.) and Neuroscience (M.Sc.) at the University in Tübingen in 2003. After finishing her PhD at the Graduate School of Neural & Behavioural Sciences /International Max Planck Research School in Tübingen she worked in the UK at the University of Cambridge and at King¿s College London.

Edition details

• Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3639123573
• ISBN 13: 9783639123579
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80