title: Intra-individual changes in Stroop-related activations linked to cigarette abstinence in adolescent tobacco smokers: Preliminary findings.
abstract: Adolescence is a crucial time for initiation of tobacco-smoking. Developing more effective treatment interventions for tobacco-smoking in youth is therefore critical to reduce smoking rates in both adolescent and adult populations. Elucidation of the neural mechanisms of successful behavioral change (abstinence) will allow for improvement of therapies based on known brain mechanisms.
  
  
  
  Twenty-one adolescent tobacco-smokers (14-19 years) participated in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of a cognitive control (Stroop) task prior to randomization to smoking cessation treatment (trial of combined nicotine replacement therapy/placebo and contingency management for attendance/abstinence; NCT01145001). Fourteen adolescents also participated in fMRI scanning following completion of the six-week trial. fMRI data were analyzed using random-effects models in SPM12. Paired t-tests were used to identify group-level changes (main effect of treatment exposure) in neural functional responses. Regression models were used to identify individual-level changes associated with treatment-outcomes (percent days abstinent, maximum days of consecutive abstinence).
  
  
  
  Main effects of Stroop task performance (contrast of incongruent versus congruent trials) were seen across a priori ROIs at both pre- and post-treatment (pFWE<0.05). At the group-level, no changes in neural responses were found following treatment. However, intra-individual reductions in Stroop-related activity (within the insula and anterior cingulate) were positively associated with measures of smoking abstinence during treatment (pFWE<0.05).
  
  
  
  Abstinence from tobacco during smoking cessation treatment among adolescents is associated with cognitive-control related reductions in neural activity within specific regions (anterior cingulate, insula), suggesting that increases in cognitive efficiency may underlie optimal treatment responses in this population.
authors: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address: sarah.yip@yale.edu.
authors: Sarah W
authors: SW
authors: Yip
authors: Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Peter Borris Centre for Addictions Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors: Iris M
authors: IM
authors: Balodis
authors: Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Kathleen M
authors: KM
authors: Carroll
authors: Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Suchitra
authors: S
authors: Krishnan-Sarin
authors: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Marc N
authors: MN
authors: Potenza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Cigarette; Development; Nicotine patch; Quit attempt; Smoking; Young adult