Gender Differences in Response to Nicotine Replacement Therapy and De-Nicotinized Cigarettes
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study will investigate the underlying neurobiology of differences between male and
female smokers. Research suggests that women are less responsive to nicotine replacement
therapy (NRT) than men and more responsive to the sensory and behavioral aspects of smoking.
This study proposed that male smokers will have a greater response to NRT demonstrated by
reduced withdrawal symptoms, craving, and less blood-oxygen-level dependent functional
magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD FMRI) regional brain activation in response to nicotine-cues
as compared to female smokers treated with NRT. Additionally, female smokers will have a
greater response to denicotinized cigarettes with decreased withdrawal symptoms, craving, and
less BOLD fMRI activation in response to nicotine-cues as compared to male smokers.