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Overcoming nicotine addiction can be helped by being mercurial
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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As you know, it is quite difficult to quit smoking, especially for some people. Often, one person who smoked a pack of cigarettes or more a day easily quits the bad habit, while another who smokes only a few cigarettes a day almost never manages to quit smoking. Scientists from one of the Pennsylvania universities were interested in the question of why some people easily cope with nicotine addiction, while others can struggle with the bad habit for years and not achieve any results. Usually, this is explained by willpower, which is different for each person, but willpower does not affect the physiological mechanisms that occur in the body with nicotine addiction.
American specialists conducted a study in this area and came to the conclusion that it is all about individual properties of the brain. Scientists managed to develop an unusual method, thanks to which it is possible to say with a high probability whether a person will be able to cope with his addiction or not.
The experiment involved 44 people (aged 18 to 45). All volunteers had smoked at least 10 cigarettes daily over the past year.
Before the experiment began, all participants were forbidden to smoke for twelve hours. As soon as the experiment began, during which the participants had to guess the cards, the scientists informed them that they would have to abstain from smoking for at least two more hours. A few minutes later, the participants were informed of the error and those who wanted to smoke could immediately use the free minute; the same participants who were able to abstain from smoking for some time would be able to earn an additional $1 for every five minutes they could spend without a cigarette.
Thus, in 50 minutes it was possible to get 10 dollars. At the same time, scientists studied the activity of different parts of the brain using a magnetic resonance tomograph.
As a result of the experiment, those participants who were unable to overcome their desire to smoke and refused the monetary reward had significantly lower activity in the pleasure center of the brain than those participants who were able to spend about an hour without cigarettes for the sake of money.
Experts suggest that commercialism (the desire for profit) plays a virtually fundamental role in the process of quitting smoking. Some people find material incentives, such as improving their health or saving money, to be a significant support in quitting smoking, while others do not prioritize money or health, so they require additional methods of influence to overcome nicotine addiction.
According to experts, such a simple method can be used to identify those who are quitting smoking who need additional methods to facilitate the process of quitting smoking. This method is especially relevant for specialists who work with groups of people and help them overcome their bad habit.
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