Effects of Repetitive tDCS on ad Libitum Smoking Behavior: EMA and EEG Study

Erasmus Medical Center73 enrolled

Overview

Bilateral (left cathodal/ right anodal) transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) seems to reduce craving and to increase the time till smoking the first cigarette after the intervention. The current study explores whether actual cigarette consumption decreases after repetitive tDCS. Cigarette consumption and craving will therefore be measured by means of EMA, before (at baseline), during and after multiple tDCS sessions, and at 3 months follow-up. To study the working mechanism behind the effects of tDCS, electrophysiological responses (ERPs) and behavioral measures of cognitive control functioning will be taken into account at baseline, one day after the last tDCS session and at three months follow up. We hypothesize that cigarette consumption will decrease after repetitive tDCS, and that this effect is associated with better cognitive control functioning.

The proposed experiment is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. 60 smokers will be randomly assigned to two conditions, namely tDCS or sham (placebo). Participants will receive real tDCS or sham for three days in one week. The interventions contain twice daily sessions for 13 minutes with an interval of 20 min. Moreover, on the first treatment day and the day after the treatment week, participants complete a number of questionnaires, and perform two psychological tasks (a gambling task and the Go/NoGo task) to measure cognitive control functioning (e.g. risky decision making and inhibitory control respectively). During these tasks, event-related potentials will be recorded by means of EEG. After three months, participants are asked to return to fill out the same questionnaires and perform the same psychological tasks as before, to measure the lasting effect of tDCS. During this last session, event-related potentials will also be recorded. In addition, carbon monoxide levels will be measured on all days where subjects perform the tasks. EMA: For three weeks, starting the week before tDCS treatment, participants are asked to log every cigarette before they smoke one. During these weeks, participants complete EMA questionnaires on their mobile phone about cigarette consumption, craving, and affect that will take approximately 5 minutes. The EMA questionnaire will be presented four times daily on a quasi-random basis. Finally, during end-of-day assessments participants have the possibility to indicate any missed cigarettes. At three months follow-up, participants are asked to undergo the same EMA procedure for one more week, to study the lasting effects of tDCS.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Mean number of cigarettes a day at 3 months follow up

The mean number of cigarettes will be measured at three months follow-up by means of Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA). This means that participants are asked to report every cigarette they smoke at the moment they're about to smoke it with an app on their mobile phone. Participants do this during the week before the last EEG session at three months follow-up.The mean number will be calculated over this week

Time frame: 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Mean number of cigarettes a day one week after tDCS

The mean number of cigarettes will be measured at one week after the last tDCS session by means of Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA). This means that participants are asked to report every cigarette they smoke at the moment they're about to smoke it with an app on their mobile phone. Participants do this for one week starting from the last tDCS session. The mean number will be calculated over this week

Time frame: 1 week

Craving at 3 months follow-up

Participants receive 4 prompts a day in the app on the smartphone to fill out questions about craving for 1 week starting the week before the last EEG session at three months follow-up

Time frame: 3 months

Affect 3 months after tDCS

Participants receive 4 prompts a day in the app on the smartphone to fill out questions about affect for 1 week starting the week before the last EEG session at three months follow-up

Time frame: 3 months

Craving one week after tDCS

Participants receive 4 prompts a day in the app on the smartphone to fill out questions about craving for 1 week starting the day after the last tDCS session

Time frame: 1 week

Affect one week after tDCS

Participants receive 4 prompts a day in the app on the smartphone to fill out questions about affect for 1 week starting the day after the last tDCS session

Time frame: 1 week

Behavioral responses of risk-taking

Measured with the two-choice gambling task: proportion of high-risk (higher values) choices