In addition to providing a network-based account of abstinence induced cognitive impairment (and conversely, enhancement following acute nicotine administration), this model may provide a framework within which to interpret the co-activation of insula and DMN regions often observed during reactivity to drug cues and/or drug urges (Wang et al., 2007; Janes et al., 2010; Goudriaan et al., 2010; Franklin et al., 2011), and potentially also drug Stroop interference effects associated with this pattern of co-activation (Janes et al., 2010). We would argue that drug cues elicit a salient interoceptive state increasing insula activity, and in turn the DMN, drawing resources away from extrinsic task-positive regions, producing slower response times and increased error rates.
