Nicotine Reinforcement and Smoking-Cue Reactivity: Association With Genetic Polymorphisms

Background:

• Researchers have been studying behavioral components of nicotine addiction by looking at how drugs have a reinforcing effect, connecting the stimulation provided by the drug (nicotine) to the behavior that produces it (smoking). Based on previous studies, researchers are interested in learning more about how nicotine affects current smokers' responses to psychological tests and smoking-related cues, and in studying whether certain kinds of genetic background may affect smokers' responses to these kinds of studies.

Objectives:

• To compare the effect of nicotine versus denicotinized cigarettes during specific psychological tests.
• To compare the effects of smoking cues versus neutral cues on craving, mood, and autonomic response.
• To study the effect of genes on nicotine reinforcement and smoking-cue reactivity.

Eligibility:

• Individuals between 18 and 64 years of age who are current smokers (at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year) and are not currently interested in reducing their smoking or seeking treatment for tobacco dependence.

Design:

• Pilot session:
• Participants will practice smoking using the measuring equipment that will be used in the study.
• After successful practice, participants will read or listen to music for 1 hour, during which they are not allowed to smoke.
• After the 1-hour period, participants will sample study cigarettes that have different levels of nicotine, and will be asked to guess whether the cigarettes are normal study cigarettes or denicotinized cigarettes.
• Baseline session:
• Blood, urine, and breath samples will be taken at the start of the session.
• Participants will smoke part of an initial cigarette, and then will read or listen to music for 1 hour, during which they are not allowed to smoke.
• After the 1-hour period, participants will give another breath sample and will complete questionnaires about mood and concentration levels.
• Trial sessions:
• Participants will smoke study cigarettes, and will be asked to either respond to questions about perceived nicotine levels in the cigarettes or press a lever for the chance to be rewarded with additional puffs of the cigarette. After the session, participants will give another breath sample and will complete questionnaires about mood and concentration levels.
• Participants will also participate in cue-reactivity sessions to test the body's physiological response to smoking cues (a pack of cigarettes) and neutral cues (a pack of unsharpened pencils). After the session, participants will complete questionnaires on mood and concentration 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after the session.
• At the conclusion of the last experimental session, participants will discuss the study with researchers, and may receive a referral list of smoking treatment programs.