WASHINGTON: Exercises aimed at increasing self-control, such as mindfulness meditation, may decrease a person’s desire to smoke without them even realising, new research has claimed.
Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that smokers have less activity in the brain regions associated with self-control, raising questions around whether targeting these neurobiological circuits could be a way to treat addiction.
Researchers at the Texas Tech University and University of Oregon recruited 60 undergraduate students (27 cigarette smokers and 33 nonsmokers) to participate in an integrative body-mind training programme.
Each of the students came into the programme expecting to learn meditation and relaxation techniques for stress reduction and cognitive improvement.
The students were split into two groups so that half received mindfulness meditation training (eg becoming self-aware of one’s experience) and half received relaxation technique (eg relaxing muscle group).
Before and at the end of two weeks, after five hours of 30 minute sessions, the students received brain scans, filled out self-report questionnaires, and received objective measure of carbon monoxide on their smoking amounts and habits.
Even though many of the students said they smoked the same number of cigarettes before and after the training, for those who received mindfulness meditation, an objective measure of carbon dioxide percentage in their lungs showed a 60 per cent reduction in smoking over 2 weeks after the study.
“The students changed their smoking behaviour but were not aware of it,” said lead author Yi-Yuan Tang, a Professor of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech.
“When we showed the data to a participant who said they had smoked 20 cigarettes, this person checked their pocket immediately and was shocked to find 10 left,” said Tang.
Other studies showed how integrative body-mind training could decrease participant’s levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as increase immune reactivity.
Specific changes in the brain have also been identified, showing stronger connectivity between regions linked to self-control, researchers said.
The study was published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences. (AGENCIES)
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