Nicotine Withdrawal and Reward Processing

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine Dependence, Nicotine Withdrawal

In brief

This study is designed to find out how smoking affects the way the brain responds to pleasure and how this impacts smokers' behavior. Participants will complete three sessions. The first session will be a screening and training visit to determine final eligibility. Eligible participants will work with a researcher to develop brief scripts about times when they smoke and do other activities. Next, participants will attend two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans - one after abstaining from smoking for 24 hours and the other after smoking as usual. After the second MRI, participants will answer questions on their phone every day for two weeks.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT05041959
Run by: University of Oklahoma
People needed: 58
Starts: 2022-06-02
Expected to finish: 2024-04-15
Last updated by the study team: 2024-05-08

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Generally healthy
Age 21-55
Right-handed using a three-item scale
Daily smoker of ≥ 6 cigarettes/day
Smoking regularly for ≥ 1 year
Have a smartphone capable of running the MetricWire application
Able to read and understand English
Able to identify at least 6 pleasurable activities they do not do concurrently with smoking or associate with smoking.
Able to identify at least 6 unique locations/scenarios they do associate with smoking

You may not qualify if…

Planning to quit smoking within the next 60 days
Currently seeking or receiving treatment for smoking cessation
Use of smokeless tobacco, nicotine replacement products or electronic cigarettes more than 5 days in the past month.
Breath alcohol level ≥.001. Participants may be allowed one reschedule at the discretion of the PI or other study staff.
Positive toxicology screen for illicit drugs
Marijuana will be tested for but will not be exclusionary
Participants failing the toxicology screen may be allowed one re-screening attempt at the PI's discretion
Participants with valid prescriptions who report using the medication as directed and meet all other eligibility criteria may be allowed to participate at the PI's discretion
Current use of antipsychotic or stimulant medications.
Significant health problems or those that would impact scientific goals of the project, including (but not limited to):
Cancer, Bronchitis, Emphysema, COPD
Asthma or Breathing Problems
Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
Heart disease, angina, heart failure, serious arrhythmia or heart attack within the past 6 months
Systolic Blood Pressure > 160, Diastolic Blood Pressure > 100, HR > 115 bpm (one re-screen allowed).
Glaucoma, color blindness or an uncorrected vision problem
Significant hearing loss requiring the use of hearing aids or other hearing problems that would impact
History of stroke, brain tumor, seizure disorder, or traumatic brain injury
Metal implants (e.g. pacemaker, surgical pins, certain dental repairs), dental braces, or metal fragment injuries.
Claustrophobia
Weight > 350 pounds or unable to fit in the MRI scanner bore
Current psychotic disorder, alcohol use disorder or drug use disorder for drugs other than cannabis (moderate or severe only, mild is allowable at PI's discretion). AUD and DUD in remission are also allowable at PI's discretion.
Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study (females)
Current enrollment in another smoking research study or having participated in a study involving daily use of Spectrum cigarettes or other reduced nicotine products within the past three months
Irregular sleep-wake cycles (e.g. swing-shift work, unusual sleep pattern)

Where it is running

Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience — Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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