Research led by UC Irvine has identified a new method that may reduce the subjective experience of cigarette cravings and the brain activity associated with them. The technique, known as "cue labeling," is an adaptation of an established emotion regulation strategy that involves putting feelings into words.
The findings, authored by UC Irvine assistant research psychologist Golnaz Tabibnia, were published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Tabibnia noted that "putting what we crave into words can help calm cravings," drawing a parallel to how verbalizing emotions has long been understood to lessen emotional intensity.
The development comes amidst persistent challenges in smoking cessation. A 2022 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that 67.7% of adults who smoked expressed a desire to quit, and 53.5% had attempted to do so within the past year. Despite these efforts, fewer than one in 10 adults who smoke cigarettes succeed in quitting annually, and less than 10% sustain cessation for six months or longer.
From a neuroscience perspective, the difficulty in quitting is attributed to nicotine and other addictive substances co-opting the brain's survival circuits. These are the same circuits that compel behaviors essential for survival, such as seeking food or water. Dopamine neurons in the brain's reward circuits become particularly responsive during pleasant experiences or in anticipation of them. This neurochemical is also involved in initiating movement, intertwining the desire for something and the action taken to acquire it. While the brain is equipped to overcome non-adaptive desires, some cases may benefit from assistance and training, according to Tabibnia.
Tabibnia's work on cue labeling stems from her broader research focus on emotions and emotion regulation. Her previous studies explored how insights from brain function could improve or develop new mental strategies for managing emotions. She later observed that emotions and cravings share common regulatory mechanisms in the brain. This observation led her to investigate whether a cognitive technique effective for emotion regulation could be adapted for craving regulation.
The underlying principle, known in academic literature as "affect labeling," involves giving a name to a feeling or a trigger for a feeling. Early in Tabibnia's graduate studies, evidence emerged suggesting a connection between the language centers of the brain and the amygdala, a region known for its role in emotions, especially fear. Multiple studies demonstrated that verbalizing feelings activates a specific part of the prefrontal cortex and reduces emotional responses, whether measured through amygdala activity, self-report, or physiological indicators like skin sweat.
Tabibnia explored the clinical implications of this language-emotion interaction, noting its relevance to therapy. Her work showed that incorporating language in a specific way into exposure therapy, a behavior-based treatment for fear and anxiety, could enhance treatment outcomes. This approach was subsequently recommended by anxiety experts as an addition to standard exposure therapy to maximize its effectiveness. When later research, including her own, suggested similar brain processing and regulation for emotions and cravings, the question arose whether labeling could also be beneficial for craving management.
Traditional mental strategies employed by individuals attempting to regulate cravings include mindfulness or mindfulness-based techniques. These involve paying attention to the sensation of craving without trying to change it, observing its rise and fall like a wave. Another common method is cognitive reappraisal, where an individual reframes their perception of the desired object to make it less appealing. This might involve focusing on the harmful consequences of use rather than the anticipated pleasure. Both techniques require practice but can be helpful.
Cue labeling, as a new approach emerging from this research, seeks to apply the principles of affect labeling to the context of specific cravings.
