How smoking withdrawal changes brain activity and pain in people with and without chronic pain
Neural correlates and behavioral impact of withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia among people who smoke with and without chronic pain
This project compares how 24-hour smoking abstinence changes brain responses and pain in adults who smoke, both with and without chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309662 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join as an adult who smokes and complete two brain scans: one after smoking as usual and one after 24 hours without smoking. During each scan you will receive brief heat sensations and report how much they hurt while researchers record your brain activity. The team will also follow your smoking behavior during a short abstinence period to see whether increases in pain during withdrawal make quitting harder. The study compares people who have chronic pain with those who do not to understand differences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who smoke daily, including those with chronic pain, who can undergo MRI scans and are willing to try short, biochemically verified abstinence.
Not a fit: People who do not smoke, cannot undergo MRI (e.g., metal implants), are under 21, pregnant, or unwilling to attempt short-term abstinence are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help design quitting programs that reduce pain-related quit failures for people who smoke and have chronic pain.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show withdrawal can increase pain and alter brain responses, but combining fMRI during controlled heat pain with short-term abstinence to predict quitting success is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sweitzer, Maggie M — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Sweitzer, Maggie M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.