title: Cue-reactivity in experienced electronic cigarette users: Novel stimulus videos and a pilot fMRI study.
abstract: Some individuals who try electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) continue to use long-term. Previous research has investigated the safety of e-cigarettes and their potential for use in smoking cessation, but comparatively little research has explored chronic or habitual e-cigarette use. In particular, the relationship between e-cigarette cues and craving is unknown. We sought to bridge this gap by developing a novel set of e-cigarette (salient) and electronic toothbrush (neutral) videos for use in cue-reactivity paradigms. Additionally, we demonstrate the utility of this approach in a pilot fMRI study of 7 experienced e-cigarette users. Participants were scanned while viewing the cue videos before and after 10min use of their own e-cigarettes (producing an 11.7ng/ml increase in plasma nicotine concentration). A significant session (pre- and post-use) by video type (salient and neutral) interaction was exhibited in many sensorimotor areas commonly activated in other cue-reactivity paradigms. We did not detect significant cue-related activity in other brain regions notable in the craving literature. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed, including the importance of matching cue stimuli to participants' experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States. Electronic address: travis.nichols.psu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Travis T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foulds
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yingst
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veldheer
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Shari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hrabovsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richie
authors.affiliation: Center for The Study of Tobacco Products, Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eissenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D066249:Craving / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D000072137:Vaping / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Craving; Cue; E-cigarette; E-cigs; Stimulus; fMRI