Targeted rTMS to rebalance brain circuits to help people quit smoking
RTMS manipulates imbalanced drive-reward and executive control circuitry for smoking cessation
This project tests whether targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on two brain areas can help adults who smoke reduce cravings and quit.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293412 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you will have brain scans while looking at smoking cues and while trying not to smoke, then be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a sham (placebo) rTMS, active low-frequency rTMS to the medial orbital frontal cortex (mOFC), or active low-frequency rTMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The team will use fMRI to guide the stimulation target and model the electric field for precise targeting. Treatment sessions involve short, noninvasive magnetic stimulation sessions combined with cue exposure, and the initial phase plans to enroll about 45 participants. Follow-up visits will track cravings, cigarette use, and ability to remain abstinent.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who currently smoke cigarettes, meet criteria for tobacco use disorder, want help quitting, and are willing to undergo MRI scans and rTMS sessions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not trying to quit, who have MRI/TMS contraindications (like certain metal implants or seizures), or who cannot attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a non-drug brain stimulation option that reduces craving and improves smoking quit rates.
How similar studies have performed: Previous rTMS studies have shown promise by reducing cue-induced craving, lowering cigarette use, and increasing quit rates, but optimal brain targets and stimulation parameters remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Xingbao — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Li, Xingbao
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.