rTMS-concurrent Behavioral Priming for Reducing Smoking Cravings

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-60
SponsorWest Virginia University

About this trial

The objective of this pilot clinical trial is to test the effects of different types of thinking strategies at the time of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), applied to the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC), on smoking craving and brain activity. Participants will be individuals with moderate to high smoking dependence (smoking at least 8 cigarettes a day) who have no intention of quitting in the next 3 months and are eligible to have rTMS and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The main objectives of the trial are:

1. To compare the craving-reducing effects of "upregulation" and "downregulation" of craving while looking at pictures related to cigarette smoking during rTMS versus no regulation of craving while looking at neutral pictures unrelated to smoking. 'Upregulation" is thinking about the immediate positive experience of smoking. "Downregulation" is thinking about the long-term negative consequences of smoking. 2. To examine changes in brain activity that accompany craving reductions produced by rTMS paired with upregulation and downregulation of craving while looking at pictures related to cigarette smoking versus no regulation of craving while looking at neutral pictures unrelated to smoking.

Following screening for eligibility, participants will be trained on how to do upregulation and downregulation of craving. The participants will then participate in 3 testing sessions. In each session, the participants will receive rTMS at 20Hz in 50 trains (2000 pulses total), followed immediately by fMRI. Sessions will take place 1-2 weeks apart and will differ in the type of thinking strategy participants will use while looking at pictures during the rTMS:

* upregulation of craving while viewing smoking-related images * downregulation of craving while viewing smoking-related images * no regulation of craving while viewing neutral smoking-unrelated images

The order of sessions will be randomized across participants.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Able to provide written informed consent, and to follow study procedures

Active cigarette smoker consuming at least 8 cigarettes a day for at least 6 months.

Dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes is permitted.

Disqualifiers

History of epilepsy or seizure disorder

History of cerebral vascular accident or cortical stroke

History of brain lesions (such as multiple sclerosis, tumor)

History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Treatment groups

20 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group

Sponsors and collaborators