Beta-Adrenergic Modulation of Drug Cue Reactivity: Neural and Behavioral Mechanisms

Cigarette use remains a serious public health problem in the United States and worldwide. Effective pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation exist, but these medications primarily target nicotine withdrawal and smoking reinforcement. The cues and contexts associated with smoking also play an important role in driving smoking behavior, but evidence is extremely mixed whether existing interventions can effectively attenuate smoking urges and behavior in response to these cues and contexts.

In a previous pilot trial, the investigators demonstrated that propranolol suppressed smoking cue reactivity and brain activation across a constellation of brain regions implicated in nicotine dependence. Here, the investigators seek to extend this work by examining effects when the drug is administered in combination with an established treatment targeting withdrawal and reinforcement (i.e., nicotine patch).

Following consent and screening/baseline activities, participants will attend four neuroimaging appointments each lasting approximately 5 hours. Participants will be fitted with a nicotine or placebo patch, fed a standard meal and then administered propranolol or placebo. Participants will complete questionnaires and have their heart rate/blood pressure monitored throughout the visit. During the MRI scan, participants will be asked to complete both resting scans and task-based scans during which participants will view images of smoking and non-smoking objects and scenes.