Neurobehavioral and neuropsychological markers of tobacco addiction
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Neurobehavioral and neuropsychological markers of tobacco addiction and relapse: A comparison between adolescents and adults
IRAS ID
260050
Contact name
Aldo Alberto Conti
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of St Andrews
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
not applicable, not applicable
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Tobacco smoking is a major global health problem causing over 6 million deaths per year worldwide. Recent research proposed neurological, behavioral, and cognitive markers of Tobacco addiction and relapse such as the emergence of negative emotional states (e.g. Anxiety, Depression, Anger) during tobacco withdrawal caused by a dysregulation of brain’s reward circuits ('Allostasis'), deficits in various cognitive domains (e.g. memory, attention), the aberrant preference towards smaller immediate rewards in contrast to larger delayed rewards ('Temporal Discounting'), and the presence of small white matter lesions ('White Matter Hyperintensities'). Despite these findings, research conducted on adolescent and adult smokers is limited.
The primary aim of the current pilot study is to assess the feasibility of methodological and experimental procedures that are required to investigate the above markers of tobacco addiction, while the secondary aim is to investigate possible differences related to these markers between adolescent and adult smokers. If the results show neurological, behavioral, and cognitive differences between adolescent and adult smokers, the findings of the current research may aid the development of effective age-tailored smoking cessation treatments and relapse prevention programs.
Eighty members of the community will be recruited in the St Andrews and Dundee area. Participants’ groups will consist in 20 adolescent smokers, 20 adolescent non-smokers, 20 adult smokers, and 20 adult non-smokers. Eligible participants will need to undergo different experimental procedures. These consist in a Cambridge Automated Test Battery (CANTAB), which refers to a series of computerized cognitive tests, in a functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) procedure, and in a temporal discounting task. Additionally, they will complete a series of paper and pencil mood measures. These procedures will be conducted at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine and at Ninewells hospital in Dundee on three separate days.The study is expected to last 24 months.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1176
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion