Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain 1

Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain

Kinsey Brantley

University of South Carolina Lancaster

Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain 2

About 37.8 million adults in the United States use cigarettes (Smoking and Tobacco

Use). The nicotine inhaled from those cigarettes is highly addictive. Every smoker’s experience

is different, which makes their addiction to nicotine distinctive. People feel sensations of

happiness, relaxation and even are able to focus more on task after smoking. When trying to quit,

one can experience anxiety, depression, weight gain, trouble sleeping, and frustration (Nicotine

Dependence: How Does it Happen?). The relapse rate is 75 to 80% for smokers trying to quit in

the first six months (Tobacco Addiction). Cessation for smokers trying to quit is found to be

harder than other drugs. From twenty-eight studies on people trying to quit an abused substance,

18% quit drinking, 40% quit opioids or cocaine and 8% quit smoking (The American Cancer

Society medical and editorial content team). Quitting smoking is not necessarily the individual’s

fault because the brain ultimately becomes dependent on nicotine and creates every excuse for a

person to continue usage.

When a person smokes, nicotine and other chemicals from cigarettes are inhaled into the

lungs which are then absorbed in to the body (Nicotine Dependence: How Does it Happen?).

Automatically after puffing a cigarette, epinephrine is released by the adrenal glands.

Epinephrine alerts and stimulates the body. Due to this glucose is released into the body because

it is stimulated into a “fight or flight” mode (Jiloha, 2010). Nicotine enters the blood stream; by

doing so, nicotine can get to the brain faster than drugs that enter through other methods. It only

takes seven to ten seconds for the nicotine to reach the brain. When the nicotine hits the brain,

blood pressure and heart rate increase due to stimulation of the adrenal glands (Jiloha, 2010).

The brain can be thought of like a computer. It receives information in a way similar to how a

computer receives information by electricity through wires. For the brain, nerve cells, called

neurons, send and receive information from other neurons and the dendrites and axons attached
Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain 3

to the cells (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell). Neurons transmit signals through neurotransmitters

(Jiloha, 2010). The neurotransmitters aid in responses of the brain and other parts of the body.

Nicotine alters the way those neurotransmitters may relay information, which changes responses

of the nervous system.

Neurons come into contact at synapses (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell).

Neurotransmitters are released by the pre-synaptic neuron and then binds to receptors. Neurons

send the signals from transmitters to each other in the brain (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell).

From the brain, signals can be sent to other parts of the body as well (Jiloha, 2010).

Acetylcholine is one neurotransmitter that nicotine can mimic. Receptors for acetylcholine

recognize it by its one positive and other negative end on specific positions of the molecule

(Jiloha, 2010). The space between the charged ends never change, and they connect with the

oppositely charged ends of the receptor. Nicotine has a positive end and a negative end that is

similar to acetylcholine. Nicotine’s positive end comes from its ammonium head and the

negative on the pyridine ring. These charges are the same distance apart on nicotine as they are

on acetylcholine (Jiloha, 2010). By having practically the same structure, nicotine is able to bind

to acetylcholine’s receptors like the cholinergic receptors (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell).

However, acetylcholine enters ion channels, it is regulated and destroyed by enzymes (T.

Scarlett, personal communication, April 4, 2018). Nicotine is not destroyed by enzymes after

binding and entering the channels (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell). After the usage of nicotine

becomes routine, there is a higher level of activity at the acetylcholine receptors. The receptors

are being activated by acetylcholine and nicotine, so to decrease the rates of binding, less

acetylcholine is released. At this point, nicotine is needed for functioning (Nicotine).

Acetylcholine aids in the functions of movement of muscles, heart rate, learning and memory
Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain 4

and even breathing (How Does Nicotine Act in the Brain, 2018). Nicotine in turn effects those

functions when there is less of the normal neurotransmitter to complete the functions (Trimarchi,

Meeker-O’Connell).

Nicotine effects hormones and other neurotransmitters as well. When the cholinergic

neurons are activated, neurons are stimulated causing an increase in action potentials. This

increase in action potentials causes an increase in dopamine releasement (Broadhead). Dopamine

is released into the limbic system, which is a system of brain structures (Trimarchi, Meeker-

O’Connell). Dopamine is a hormone as well as a neurotransmitter which aids in the activation of

reward senses in the brain. When dopamine is released, it increases the desire to smoke because

it makes a person feel good. Nicotine is one of the more major dopamine stimulators (Jiloha,

2010). Nicotine not only increases the levels of dopamine during increased intake, is also causes

the enzyme that breaks down dopamine, monoamine oxydase B, to decrease (How Drugs Affect

Neurotransmitters). This leaves dopamine levels high and smokers inhaling more nicotine in

order to feel good (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell). Dopamine is also associated with feelings of

a “buzz” and relaxation (Nicotine Dependence: How Does it Happen?). Dopamine as a receptor

releases acetylcholine, serotonin, vasopressin and human growth hormone (Jiloha, 2010).

Nicotine can also cause the releasement of glutamate, another transmitter. Glutamate is

may function in areas of learning and memory. While nicotine causes an individual to feel good,

glutamine creates the memory of feeling good while smoking. This enhances a person’s want for

the drug (Trimarchi, Meeker-O’Connell).

As if the positive feelings associated with smoking trapped in the memory is not enough

to make a person addicted, other processes in the brain occur to create addiction. Once smoking

becomes a regular habit, the brain recognizes nicotine and treats nicotine as a necessity, like
Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain 5

nutrients from food (Kellett). Dopamine becomes directly associated with nicotine; in order for

the dopamine levels to remain high, the nicotine intake must be high. Nicotine does not remain in

the body for a long time and after a while the body builds a tolerance to the drug. To still feel the

same emotions and effects, increased levels of nicotine must be taken in. This increase in

nicotine creates an increase in the number of nicotine receptors. This explains smoker’s feelings

of “needing” a cigarette. The brain relies on nicotine to bind to those receptors because

acetylcholine is not being produced enough to bind to all the receptors. Smokers associate

smoking and the brain associates nicotine with routines. This is probably due to the memory

processes from glutamate. For example, if a person makes smoking while having their morning

coffee a routine, the brain will associate a need for nicotine at that time. It heightens the demand

of nicotine during daily activities (Kellett).

The withdrawal process of smoking is extremely difficult. People who try to quit can

have cravings for nicotine, anxiety, weight gain and depression (Nicotine Dependence: How

Does it Work?). Saying “no” to a cigarette is a lot easier said than done for a smoker undergoing

cessation because of the attachment the brain has to nicotine. A study done at the University of

Pennsylvania found that connections between the brain’s default mode network, executive

control network, and salience network were weakened when a smoker decided to quit (Perelman

School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania). These networks aid in self-control and

goal reaching. With the networks being weakened, smokers have a harder time saying “no” to

their cravings. With the weak connection of the networks, participants of the study had an

increased smoking urge, bad mood and other symptoms that come with cessation (Perelman

School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2014). The body also has to try to return

to normal after a person stops smoking. The increased number of receptors for nicotine will
Nicotine Addiction: Embedded in the Brain 6

decrease, which in turn will decrease the hormones like dopamine being released (Tips From

Former Smokers). The body has hormonal imbalance when trying to return to its normal state.

For example, dopamine and adrenaline levels have to decrease in order to return to normal levels

(Why is smoking addictive, 2015). This makes quitting hard because the “buzz” and feelings of

happiness associated with those hormones will decrease with them.

Nicotine is highly addictive. It mimics neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, and binds to its

receptors and is not destroyed. Through the releasement of dopamine associated with positive

feelings and the memory created with smoking through glutamate releasement and routine,

nicotine becomes addictive. The brain associates a need for high levels of nicotine in order to

feel relaxed and happy. Quitting is extremely difficult which is why the relapse rate is so high.

The brain is trained to treat nicotine like a necessity (Kellett), and when those needs are not met,

people feel angry, frustrated and tense (Nicotine Dependence: How Does it Happen?). Self-

control from important networks in the brain are weakened due to nicotine dependence

(Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2014). Cessation of nicotine is

difficult, but after at least three months the brain should return to normal and those negative

feelings associated with quitting should go away too (How to Quit Smoking).
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References

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