Investigating how smoking affects anxiety and body-brain communication
Official title: Smoking-related Differences in Baroreflex Sensitivity and Fear Inhibition in Adults Who Do and Do Not Smoke Cigarettes
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-10831828 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how smoking might affect anxiety and the way your body responds to stress, and it's for adults who smoke or don’t smoke; you'll take part in a lab visit where you'll do a task that tests your fear responses while we check your heart rate and blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $47,181 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DA056207-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10831828 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who either smoke cigarettes or do not smoke.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are under 21 years old or those who do not have any history of smoking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between smoking, anxiety, and physiological responses in adults. It aims to understand how cigarette use may impair the baroreflex, a critical feedback mechanism that helps regulate communication between the body and brain. Participants will undergo a laboratory visit where they will engage in a fear conditioning task while their baroreflex function is monitored through heart rate and blood pressure measurements. The study will compare responses between smokers and non-smokers to identify potential differences in anxiety-related behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for smokers with anxiety, enhancing their chances of quitting and reducing tobacco-related health issues.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on baroreflex sensitivity in relation to smoking and anxiety is relatively novel, previous studies have shown that physiological mechanisms can significantly impact anxiety and smoking cessation outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brinkman, Hannah — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Brinkman, Hannah
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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.