NCT01690130

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Effects on Nicotine Craving

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 19 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The proposed study will measure the change of cortical excitability during nicotine craving and examine the effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on nicotine craving and cue-reactivity among adult regular smokers.

Detailed description

This pilot protocol proposes to test and further develop TMS for the purpose of studying brain function in nicotine users. Specific Primary Aims include: Aim # 1. To test change of cortical excitability during nicotine craving in cigarette smokers and explore the potential use of TMS in cigarette smokers. Aim # 2. Given the role of the prefrontal cortex (and connected regions) in craving, we will examine whether modulating prefrontal activity through rTMS will impact measures of craving and the reinforcing effects of nicotine. Design: The study was a randomized, blind, sham-controlled crossover study in which participants will involve two study visits. Participants will have an initial assessment about tobacco use habits and craving patterns. Participant will look at images related to and not related to cigarette smoking. Participants will receive two different types of brain stimulation with repetitive TMS (10 Hz): sham rTMS and active rTMS over prefrontal cortex. Craving assessments will be performed before and after each stimulus experiment. Participants will be measured cortical excitability with TMS before and after each stimulus experiment.

Conditions

• Nicotine Dependence

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Neuronetics)	Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a noninvasive brain stimulation that can focally stimulate the brain of an awake individual. A TMS pulse focally stimulates the cortex by depolarizing superficial neurons which induces electrical currents in the brain.
DEVICE	Sham Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation	The electrical current of the sham system is titrated to a level matching participants' ratings of active TMS.The sham-TMS scalp discomfort will be matched to that of active TMS.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-06-01
• Primary completion: 2014-02-01
• Completion: 2014-02-01
• First posted: 2012-09-21
• Last updated: 2020-04-01
• Results posted: 2018-11-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States