Understanding brain activity related to smoking lapses

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This project aims to explore the psychological processes that lead to smoking lapses, which are critical moments when individuals may relapse during a quit attempt. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the study will measure brain activity patterns in adults who smoke, particularly focusing on changes that occur before a lapse. Participants will undergo a laboratory task designed to model smoking lapse behavior after a 12-hour period of abstinence from cigarettes. The research seeks to link brain dynamics to emotional states and subsequent smoking behavior, addressing a significant gap in understanding smoking relapse.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must be between the ages of 21 and 65.
* Participants must be fluent English speakers.
* Participants must pass an MRI safety screening.
* Participants must report smoking at least six cigarettes per day continuously for at least the 12 preceding months.
* Participants must have a baseline expired-air carbon monoxide exceeding 10 parts per million in order to verify smoking status.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals will be excluded if they report that they are not willing to refrain from using nicotine for 12 hours before the experimental lab visit.
* Individuals will be excluded if they have any known risk from exposure to high-field strength magnetic fields (e.g., pacemakers), any irremovable metallic foreign objects in their body (e.g., braces), or a questionable history of metallic fragments that are likely to create artifact on the MRI scans.

Where it's running

• The Pennsylvania State University
  University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.