This is a pilot project using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the influence of varenicline on reward processing, cognitive control, and regulation of craving in adolescent smokers. We hypothesize that adolescent smokers receiving varenicline, when compared with those receiving placebo, will have differential brain responses to anticipation of rewards, during exposure to the Stroop task, and in response to tobacco cues.
This is a pilot project using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the influence of varenicline on reward processing, cognitive control, and regulation of craving in adolescent smokers. We hypothesize that adolescent smokers receiving varenicline, when compared with those receiving placebo, will have increased activation of the ventral striatum (VS) in response to anticipation of rewards in the Monetary Incentive Delay Task (MIDT), decreased activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) during exposure to incongruent stimuli in the Stroop task, and reduced activation of the ventral striatum in response to tobacco cues, and increased activation of the dlPFC during regulation of responses to tobacco cues during the Regulation of Craving (ROC) task. The results of this pilot project will have important implications regarding the use of varenicline for treating tobacco dependence and understanding varenicline's neurobiological effects in adolescent smokers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
16
1 mg bid varenicline titrated over a 2 week period
1 mg bid placebo titrated over a 2 week period
Substance Abuse Center
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
neural responses to the MIDT
The Monetary Incentive Delay Task (MIDT) will be administered during the fMRI at the end of 14 days of varenicline treatment
Time frame: During MRI following14 days of varenicline treatment
neural responses to the ROC
The Regulation of Craving (ROC)will be administered during the fMRI at the end of 14 days of varenicline treatment
Time frame: During MRI following14 days of varenicline treatment
neural responses to the Stroop
The Stroop will be administered during the fMRI at the end of 14 days of varenicline treatment
Time frame: During MRI following14 days of varenicline treatment
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.