Effects of Nicotine on Cognitive Task Performance and Brain Activity as Measured by fMRI
Completed
Conditions studied: Nicotine Dependence, Drug Abuse
In brief
Background: \- Many cigarette smokers claim that smoking improves their ability to think and concentrate, and have reported problems in thinking and concentration after quitting smoking. Some research has indicated that nicotine can enhance certain aspects of attention and memory in humans. However, more research is needed to determine how nicotine affects different elements of the brain s ability to think, pay attention, respond to rewards, and make decisions. Researchers are interested in using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the effects of nicotine on brain function and activity. Objectives: \- To determine the effects of nicotine on attentional and other thinking processes, including reward-seeking behavior. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 18 and 50 years of age who are either current smokers (10 or more cigarettes per day for at least 1 year) or nonsmokers. Design: * The study has four experiments. Each experiment requires two MRI scanning sessions and a training session. Participant can do one or all of the experiments. * Participants will receive training on the types of computerized tests that will be given during the active portion of the study. Participants will also fill out questionnaires on nicotine use and other alcohol and drug use, and provide breath and urine samples. * During the test sessions, participants will have fMRI scanning while performing up to four different sets of tasks that test attention, memory, concentration, reward-seeking behavior, and decision making. Smokers will wear a nicotine patch or placebo patch during the test sessions, but will not be told which patch they are receiving. The order of these sessions will be different for individual participants. * Participants will provide blood and urine samples throughout the research study for evaluation purposes.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT01036711
- Run by
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- People needed
- 249
- Starts
- 2002-09-17
- Expected to finish
- 2012-11-26
- Last updated by the study team
- 2018-04-05
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may not qualify if…
- Are pregnant or breast feeding. Urine pregnancy tests will be performed on all female volunteers of child-bearing potential before each experimental session.
- Have implanted metallic devices (cardiac pacemaker or neurostimulator, some artificial joints, metal pins, surgical clips or other implanted metal parts) or claustrophobia rendering them unable to undergo fMRI scanning.
- Have major medical illnesses to include, but not limited to, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, peripheral vascular diseases, coagulopathies, syncope, history of superficial or deep vein thrombosis, HIV, or other clinically significant infectious diseases.
- Have current major psychiatric disorders to include, but not limited to, mood, anxiety, psychotic disorders, or substance-induced psychiatric disorders.
- Have neurological illnesses to including, but not limited to, seizure disorders, migraine, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, or history of head trauma, CVA, CNS tumor.
- Have significant alcohol or other drug use, other than nicotine dependence.
- Have gros structural abnormalities onT1 weighted images.
- Have cognitive impairment as assessed by screening WASI vocabulary subtest below 48, corresponding to full IQ of 85 (in that case on screening, a full WASI will be done to verify IQ of 85 or above). Justification: Cognitive impairment and learning disabilities are associated with alterations in brain regions used to accomplish tasks, and, therefore, may introduce significant variably into the data.
- Are engaged in or actively seeking smoking cessation treatment.
Where it is running
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Biomedical Research Center (BRC) — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.