The current study aims to establish proof-of-concept that neural cue-reactivity can serve as an early, objective marker of electronic cigarette (ECIG) addictive potential. Further, this study will examine the effect of flavor and nicotine concentration on the addictive potential of ECIGs to aid research informing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flavor regulations and smoking cessation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
19
Participants will be provided with an EGO style ECIG to be used for 28 days. The EGO style ECIG is a "vape pen-style" device that comprises of a rechargeable battery and a tank containing liquid. Those in this intervention group will receive an ECIG with 18mg/ml nicotine concentration and a tobacco flavor.
Participants will be provided with an EGO style ECIG to be used for 28 days. The EGO style ECIG is a "vape pen-style" device that comprises of a rechargeable battery and a tank containing liquid. Those in this intervention group will receive an ECIG with 18mg/ml nicotine concentration and a strawberry vanilla flavor.
Penn State Health
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Baseline Neural Flavor Cue-reactivity at Baseline
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to measure blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal in response to tobacco vs. strawberry-vanilla ECIG flavors at baseline. The means reported are the average percentage of BOLD signal change between the fMRI task odor conditions (tobacco vs. strawberry) identified using a whole-brain one-sample t-test with FSL software. Positive values indicate stronger BOLD signal during tobacco odor cues and negative values indicate stronger BOLD signal during strawberry odor cues.
Time frame: Baseline
Changes in Neural Flavor Cue-reactivity Across Nicotine Groups
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to measure changes in blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal for the tobacco\>strawberry contrast across 18 mg/ml vs. 0 mg/ml nicotine concentration groups from baseline to 4-weeks post-randomization using a whole-brain repeated measures ANOVA with FSL software. The means reported are the difference (4-week post-intervention - baseline) of the average percentage of BOLD signal change between the fMRI task odor conditions (tobacco vs. strawberry). Positive values indicate increases in tobacco\>strawberry BOLD signal and negative values indicate decreases in tobacco\> strawberry BOLD signal.
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks
Changes in Neural Flavor Cue-reactivity Across Flavor Groups
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to measure changes in blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal for the tobacco \> strawberry contrast across flavor groups (tobacco vs. strawberry) from baseline to 4-weeks post-randomization. The means reported are the difference (4-week post-intervention - baseline) of the average percentage of BOLD signal change between the fMRI task odor condition (tobacco vs. strawberry) identified using a whole-brain repeated measures ANOVA with FSL software. Positive values indicate increases in tobacco\>strawberry BOLD signal and negative values indicate decreases in tobacco\> strawberry BOLD signal.
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks
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Participants will be provided with an EGO style ECIG to be used for 28 days. The EGO style ECIG is a "vape pen-style" device that comprises of a rechargeable battery and a tank containing liquid. Those in this intervention group will receive an ECIG with 0mg/ml nicotine concentration and a tobacco flavor.
Participants will be provided with an EGO style ECIG to be used for 28 days. The EGO style ECIG is a "vape pen-style" device that comprises of a rechargeable battery and a tank containing liquid. Those in this intervention group will receive an ECIG with 0mg/ml nicotine concentration and a strawberry vanilla flavor.
ECIG Dependence
Changes in self-reported ECIG dependence will be measured using the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index (PSECDI). Total scores on this 10-item measure range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of e-cigarette dependence. The means reported here are the week 4 - week 2 difference scores of the total dependence score. Positive means indicate increases in e-cigarette dependence, while negative means indicated decreases in e-cigarette dependence.
Time frame: 2-weeks post-randomization to 4-weeks post-randomization
ECIG Liking and Satisfaction
Changes in subjective experiences of ECIG use related to liking and satisfaction will be collected via a self-report survey. The survey consists of 21-items (7-reversed scored) with response options on a 7-point likert scale and total scores ranging from 0 to 126. Higher scores indicate more ECIG liking and satisfaction. The means reported here are the difference of the total scores at week 4 - week 2, with positive means indicating increases in e-cigarette liking and negative means indicating decreases in liking. Note that standard deviation cannot be reported for groups with only one participant.
Time frame: 2-weeks to 4-weeks
Craving to Smoke/Vape
Changes in self-reported craving to smoke/vape were measured with 3 questions on amount, intensity, and self-control using visual analogue scales ranging from 0 to 10 prior to completing the functional MRI scan. Total scores range from 0 to 30 and higher scores indicate more craving. The means reported here are week 4 post-intervention - baseline difference scores of the total craving score. Positive means indicate increases in craving, while negative means indicate decreases in craving.
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post-randomization