TMS for Nicotine Use Disorder
This study is looking for 42 adults, aged 18-55, who are dependent on nicotine. It aims to find the best way to use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a device that uses magnetic pulses, to change how your brain responds to rewards. Researchers will deliver TMS to a specific part of your brain (L-DLPFC) using a robotic system. They want to see if different TMS pulse patterns can affect your brain's reward activity, improve your decision-making, and reduce nicotine cravings. The main way they'll measure success is by looking at your brain's electrical activity related to rewards on the day of testing. You cannot have received substance abuse treatment in the last 30 days and must be in stable health.
- Study design
- This is a randomized controlled study involving 42 participants. It compares two different TMS protocols (excitatory and inhibitory) on reward processing in smokers.
- What's involved
- You would attend two experimental sessions over a one-month period. Before each session, you'll need to abstain from smoking for 4 hours, provide consent, and complete questionnaires.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- The primary outcome (brain activity) is measured on Day 0 (the day of testing). Other measures are taken during the two sessions over a one-month period.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Identify the Optimal TMS Pulse Protocol to Modulate Reward Activity
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Travis E Baker, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Rutgers University
Who to contact
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What this trial measures
- Event-related Brain Potential: Reward PositivityDay 0 (day of testing)
The reward positivity is an event-related brain potential (ERP) sensitive to reward feedback. The reward positivity will be measured during the T-maze task, where participants will receive feedback (Reward, No-reward) following choices. ERPs will be created for each electrode and participant by averaging the single-trial EEG according to feedback type (Reward, No-reward). The reward positivity will be evaluated by subtracting the Reward feedback ERPs from the corresponding No-reward feedback ERPs. The size of the reward positivity will then be determined by identifying the maximum absolute amplitude of the difference wave within a 200-to 400-msec window after feedback onset and evaluated along electrodes Fz, FCz, and Cz. The reward positivity will be measured for each pulse protocol across condition 1a and condition 1b of dependent smokers. The reward positivity will be used to measure the efficacy of the pulse protocol to modulate reward activity.