terratogen wrote:

Bechara and colleagues culled their brain-damage registry for 69 patients who had smoked regularly before their injuries. Nineteen, including Nathan, had damage to the insula. Thirteen of the insula-damaged patients had quit smoking, 12 of them super-easily: They quit within a day of the brain injury, and reported neither smoking nor even feeling the urge since then.

Soon we will see advocacy groups whacking smokers in the head insisting it's for their own good.

hmmm... let me be a spoiler here. I smoked, heavily, for 10+ years and quit without any real withdraw symptoms. Sure, I had physical habits to break (something to do with my hands and mouth), but I didn't have chemical dependency breakdowns. Over about a three month period, I went from smoking two packs of Lucky unfiltereds or Sampearna Cloves to nothing. I almost quit cold turkey, but I think I cheated about half a dozen times in the three months. Since, about once or twice a year, I've just got to have a cigarette, but I think this is triggered more by being around other smokers and that certain aroma of cheap perfume, a nice breeze, and a fine drag with a swig of beer.

Having worked for a company that sold a smoking cessation product, I can tell you that it's 99% mental. Yes, nicotine is addictive, but that's not why most people smoke. Ask em.

RE: Spot in brain may control smoking urge - Yahoo! News