Real Time fMRI and Quitting Smoking

Smoking is the greatest preventable cause of mortality and a significant economic burden. Even with the best available treatments, most smokers relapse within days or weeks after a quit attempt. Nicotine replacement therapy, the most widely used pharmacotherapy, yields end of treatment quit rates of <25% suggesting that managing nicotine withdrawal is not sufficient. A smoker's response to smoking cues is one factor that increases risk of relapse. This study will examine how real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) feedback can be used to modulate brain activation in the context of smoking cues in order to resist craving. First, we will conduct a pilot study in 12 smokers for technical development and to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed study procedures. Participants will complete a total of three fMRI scanning sessions with a cue suppression task with or without neurofeedback training (NFT). Participants will be randomized to an active group (active NFT) or a control group (no NFT) during the scanning sessions. At the end of the third session, all participants will complete a validated smoking lapse laboratory paradigm to evaluate effects of NFT on smoking behavior. Upon successful completion of the technical development phase, we will proceed to a proof-of-concept phase, which will recruit 72 smokers to evaluate the efficacy of NFT for smoking behavior.

Inclusion criteria

• Treatment-seeking smokers between the ages of 18 and 65, reporting consumption of at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least the past 6 months;
• Planning to live in the area for at least the next month;
• Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the combined consent and HIPAA form;
• Able to communicate fluently in English (speaking, writing, and reading).

Exclusion criteria

Smoking Behavior:

• Use of chewing tobacco or snuff or cigars;
• Current enrollment or plans to enroll in another smoking cessation program or research study in the next month;
• Current or anticipated (within the next month) use of smoking cessation medications or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT);
• A baseline carbon monoxide (CO) reading less than 10ppm.

Alcohol/Drugs:

• Current alcohol consumption that exceeds 25 standard drinks/week;
• Positive breath alcohol concentration test (BrAC greater than or equal to 0.01) at intake; a. Participants testing positive for breath alcohol with a reading equal to or greater than .08 (the legal driving limit) or who are visibly impaired will be instructed not to drive themselves home after the appointment. If a participant needs to use a phone to call for a safe ride home, an office telephone will be made available to the participant.

Medication:

Current use or recent discontinuation (within the past 30 days at the time of Intake) of:

• Smoking cessation medication (e.g., Zyban, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Chantix, NRT);
• Anti-psychotic medications;
• Any medication that could compromise participant safety as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician;

Daily use of:

• Opiate-containing medications for chronic pain.

Medical/Neuropsychiatric:

• Women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, and/or breast feeding. All female subjects of childbearing potential will undergo a urine pregnancy test at Intake and at each scan session.
• History of epilepsy or a seizure disorder;
• History of stroke;
• Self-reported brain (or CNS) or spinal tumor;
• Self-reported history of head trauma;
• Self-reported history or current diagnosis of psychosis.

fMRI-Related:

• Self-reported use of pacemakers, certain metallic implants, or presence of metal in the eye as contraindicated for fMRI;
• Self-reported history of claustrophobia;
• Being left-handed;
• Color blindness;
• Weight greater than 250lbs at intake;
• Self-reported history of gunshot wounds;
• Any impairment preventing participants from using the response pad necessary for the computer tasks;
• Circumstances or conditions that may interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

General Exclusion:

• Any medical condition, illness, disorder, or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or treatment, as determined by the Principal Investigator;
• Enrollment or plans to enroll in another research study;
• Inability to provide informed consent or complete any of the study tasks as determined by the Principal Investigator.