What happens biologically to your brain when you smoke a cigarette?

Nicotine and the Brain One of the main ingredients in tobacco has grabbed scientists' attention. A number of studies are showing that the chemical nicotine can trigger a slew of brain mechanisms. Many appear to be positive. Researchers now are weeding out nicotine's behavioral, cognitive and addictive actions and testing nicotine-like drugs that may address some of today's major health problems. Puff. Puff. Puff. A brew of chemicals enters the body through a cloud of …

…may attach to the transporter and make it ignore cocaine, but continue its proper function. Other methods target the areas on neurons that receive dopamine, called receptors. The blocking of one type of dopamine receptor appears to stop craving in rats. The treatment now is being tested in humans. Future therapies will most likely involve drugs that home in on the reward system, compounds that target reactions specific to a certain drug and behavioral techniques.