Former smokers have more willpower than current smokers, neural study finds

By Staff Writer

Individuals who successfully kick their smoking habit may have more willpower than people who struggle to quit, according to neurological tests conducted by Trinity College researchers.

The study, which appears in the journal NeuroImage, is based on magnetic resonance imaging tests that were given to three groups of adults: smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. The images were captured while participants completed a response inhibition task, which assessed impulse control, as well as an attention task.

Compared to the current smokers, former smokers had significantly more activity in the prefrontal regions of their brain connected to controlling behavior, or willpower. This reveals that people who have successfully quit smoking have not only eliminated a deadly habit, but they have also strengthened their brain functions.

Current smokers, compared to individuals who have never smoked, showed elevated activity in sub-cortical regions that respond the reward value or salience of the nicotine stimuli. This may explain why many people who smoke also engage in other impulsive behaviors.

Young smokers may benefit from a summer boot camp, which is designed to instill more discipline while helping curb compulsive tendencies.