Understanding brain activity related to smoking lapses
Linking Brain Network Dynamics to Imminent Smoking Lapse Risk and Behavior
This study is trying to see how brain activity changes in adults who smoke right before they might slip up and have a cigarette after trying to quit.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Ages | 21 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Penn State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (University Park, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT05572671 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 to 65 who smoke at least six cigarettes per day and are willing to abstain from nicotine for 12 hours prior to the study.
Not a fit: Patients who are not regular smokers or those with contraindications for MRI procedures will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved strategies for preventing smoking relapse and enhancing cessation efforts.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of fMRI in smoking research is established, this specific approach to linking brain dynamics to smoking lapse behavior is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
University Park, Pennsylvania
- The Pennsylvania State University — University Park, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.