Stroke To Insula Broke Addiction

Smokers whose insular cortex was damaged after a stroke were able to quit smoking easily just one day after the stroke, with no relapse and no urges to light up again. Patients described their addiction as suddenly “broken,” reporting that cigarettes no longer held the same pull. The findings strongly suggest that the insula plays a key role in nicotine addiction by helping generate the powerful urge to smoke.

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