Altered executive control network and default model network topology are linked to acute electronic cigarette use: A resting‐state fNIRS study

• Published in: Addiction biology 2024-07, Vol.29 (7), p.e13423-n/a
• Main Authors: Huang, Xin, Qi, Yawei, Zhang, Ran, Pu, Yu, Chen, Xi, Chen, Shanping, Zhao, Haichao, He, Qinghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute effects; Adult; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - drug effects; Brain - physiopathology; Cigarette smoking; Cigarettes; Correlation analysis; Craving; default mode network; Default Mode Network - diagnostic imaging; Default Mode Network - physiopathology; Drug addiction; Electronic cigarettes; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; executive control network; Executive function; Executive Function - drug effects; Executive Function - physiology; graph theory analysis; Humans; Male; Nerve Net - diagnostic imaging; Nerve Net - drug effects; Nerve Net - physiopathology; Network topologies; Neural networks; Nicotine; Original; Smoking Cessation; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Vaping; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1355-6215; 1369-1600; 1369-1600
• DOI: 10.1111/adb.13423

In recent years, electronic cigarettes (e‐cigs) have gained popularity as stylish, safe, and effective smoking cessation aids, leading to widespread consumer acceptance. Although previous research has explored the acute effects of combustible cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapy on brain functional activities, studies on e‐cigs have been limited. Using fNIRS, we conducted graph theory analysis on the resting‐state functional connectivity of 61 male abstinent smokers both before and after vaping e‐cigs. And we performed Pearson correlation analysis to investigate the relationship between alterations in network metrics and changes in craving. E‐cig use resulted in increased degree centrality, nodal efficiency, and local efficiency within the executive control network (ECN), while causing a decrease in these properties within the default model network (DMN). These alterations were found to be correlated with reductions in craving, indicating a relationship between differing network topologies in the ECN and DMN and decreased craving. These findings suggest that the impact of e‐cig usage on network topologies observed in male smokers resembles the effects observed with traditional cigarettes and other forms of nicotine delivery, providing valuable insights into their addictive potential and effectiveness as aids for smoking cessation. E‐cig use was linked to enhanced topological characteristics of the executive control network (ECN) and diminished topological metrics in the default mode network (DMN). Decreased cravings after e‐cig use was associated with an improved capacity for information propagation in the ECN and a reduced attribute of the DMN.