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【medical-news】科学家发现尼古丁上瘾缘由
Scientists find source of nicotine addiction
January 26, 2007
A HEAVY smoker whose addiction to cigarettes was quickly broken after suffering a stroke has enabled scientists to pinpoint the source of nicotine addiction.
The man, who smoked 40 cigarettes a day, had his insula, a 2.5cm pleasure centre located deep within the brain, damaged in the stroke. He quit immediately and told researchers that his body "forgot the urge to smoke".
The research, published in the latest edition of Science journal, found that a subsequent investigation of 69 brain-damaged smokers revealed 19 with insula injury. Of these, 13 had also given up smoking, all but one without any difficulty. Researchers do not know why the six others failed to quit smoking.
Scientists believe the insula, described as a "platform for feelings and emotion", may be also linked to other addictive behaviours including drugs, alcohol and excessive eating.
Until now, the insula has not attraction much attention from addiction researchers, who have focused on other areas of the brain.
Study leader Dr Antoine Bechara from the University of Southern California said: "One of the most difficult problems in any form of addiction is the difficulty in stopping the urge to smoke, to take a drug, or to eat for that matter.
"Now we have identified a brain target for further research into dealing with that urge."
Obviously, any anti-smoking treatment affecting the insula would need to preserve its beneficial functions. But Dr Bechara said the insula appeared to be involved with "learned behaviours" rather than those necessary for survival.
Science senior editor Dr Peter Stern said the study was "forward-looking".
"In addition to investigating a basic scientific mechanism underlying drug addiction, these authors have come up with innovative ideas about how we may be able to treat addiction and prevent relapse," Associated Press quoted him as saying.
With Associated Press and AAP 本人已认领该文编译，48小时后若未提交译文，请其他战友自由认领。 A HEAVY smoker whose addiction to cigarettes was quickly broken after suffering a stroke has enabled scientists to pinpoint the source of nicotine addiction.
重度吸烟者在中风之后很快戒掉了烟瘾使科学家精确地找到了尼古丁上瘾缘由.
The man, who smoked 40 cigarettes a day, had his insula, a 2.5cm pleasure centre located deep within the brain, damaged in the stroke. He quit immediately and told researchers that his body "forgot the urge to smoke".
每天吸40支烟的男性在中风时，其脑岛部有一个位于大脑深部的2.5cm的愉快中枢被破坏。他立即戒掉了烟瘾，还告诉研究人员他的身体忘记了吸烟的冲动.
The research, published in the latest edition of Science journal, found that a subsequent investigation of 69 brain-damaged smokers revealed 19 with insula injury. Of these, 13 had also given up smoking, all but one without any difficulty. Researchers do not know why the six others failed to quit smoking.
发表于《科学》杂志最新一期的研究发现，在一项针对69个脑损伤的吸烟者的后续调查中，有19个出现了脑岛损伤。在这些出现脑岛损伤的人中有13个已经戒烟，只有一个有些困难。
调查人员不知道为什么其他的六个人不能戒烟。
Scientists believe the insula, described as a "platform for feelings and emotion", may be also linked to other addictive behaviours including drugs, alcohol and excessive eating.
科学家相信，被描绘成感觉和情绪的操纵台的脑岛可能也和其它的成瘾行为如药品成瘾,酒精成瘾和进食过量有关。
Until now, the insula has not attracted much attention from addiction researchers, who have focused on other areas of the brain.
直到现在，脑岛还没有得到成瘾研究人员足够的重视，他们将研究方向集中在大脑的其他区域。
Study leader Dr Antoine Bechara from the University of Southern California said: "One of the most difficult problems in any form of addiction is the difficulty in stopping the urge to smoke, to take a drug, or to eat for that matter.
研究领导者，南加利福尼亚大学的Antoine Bechara博士说：“所有成瘾行为的最困难的问题之一是怎样阻止吸烟的冲动。”
"Now we have identified a brain target for further research into dealing with that urge."
现在我们已经鉴别出了一个大脑的区域进行深入地研究来处理这种冲动。
Obviously, any anti-smoking treatment affecting the insula would need to preserve its beneficial functions. But Dr Bechara said the insula appeared to be involved with "learned behaviours" rather than those necessary for survival.
显而易见的是，任何通过影响脑岛抵抗吸烟的治疗需要保留有益的功能。但是，Bechara博士说，脑岛表现为与“学习行为”有关，而不是生存行为。
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作者:admin@医学,生命科学 2011-03-12 23:56
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