The insula, the same region of the brain recently shown to prevent overspending, is now being linked to vice rather than virtue. Research published in tomorrow's issue of Science shows that smokers with lesions in this area of the brain were 136 times more likely to report completely losing the urge to smoke than smokers with damage to other areas of the brain. In fact, 12 out of 19 such patients studied reported quitting smoking less than one day after their injury without relapsing and with little to no difficulty.
Read more: Smokers, your addiction is all in your head, study finds
Press Release: Damage to Specific Part of the Brain May Make Smokers 'Forget' to Smoke
ABSTRACT: Damage to the Insula Disrupts Addiction to Cigarette Smoking