title: Can brain games help smokers quit?: Results of a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Deficits in cognitive function are observed during nicotine withdrawal and present a challenge to successful smoking cessation. This clinical trial evaluated a cognitive exercise training (CT) program to improve smoking cessation rates.
  
  
  
  Adult treatment-seeking smokers (n=213) were randomized to receive nicotine patch therapy and 12 weeks of either computerized CT or computerized relaxation (control) training. Smoking status was biochemically verified at the end of treatment and 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  
  Quit rates did not differ by treatment arm at either time-point, nor were there effects on withdrawal symptoms or smoking urges. Reaction time for emotion recognition and verbal interference tasks showed improvement in the CT group. When including only successful quitters, improvements in recognition memory, verbal interference accuracy, and attention switching error rate were also observed in the CT group, while commission errors on the continuous performance task decreased in the control group.
  
  
  
  Despite modest changes in cognitive performance, these results do not support the efficacy of computerized cognitive training as an adjunctive therapy for smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of PA, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4100, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address: loughead@upenn.edu.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loughead
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of PA, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4100, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of PA, Room 619, Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: E Paul
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Wileyto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of PA, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4100, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Albelda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of PA, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4100, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Audrain-McGovern
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of PA, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4100, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, 207 High St., Middletown, CT 06459, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of the University of PA, 10th Floor Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Ruben C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of PA, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4100, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Cognitive training; Executive function; Nicotine dependence; Nicotine withdrawal; Smoking cessation; Working memory