Contact: Marla Vacek Broadfoot
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Duke University Medical Center

Areas of the Brain that Control Cigarette Craving

Caption: Brain scans of smokers studied by Duke researchers revealed three specific regions deep within the brain that appear to control dependence on nicotine and craving for cigarettes. Shown in blue is the thalamus, an region of the brain critical to one's ability to calm down when stressed. In red is the striatum, a region implicated in the pleasure system of the brain. In green is the anterior cingulate cortex, a region vital to self-control and concentration.

Credit: Duke University Medical Center News Office

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