Neurobehavioral Mechanisms Linking Childhood Adversity to Increased Risk for Smoking
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2027-03-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate how certain childhood experiences influences brain
function and responses to nicotine exposure in a group of nonsmoking young adults. The
investigators assess responses to nicotine exposure by giving participants a small amount of
nicotine or placebo, and then asking them to answer questionnaires. The investigational drugs
used in this study are a nicotine nasal spray (i.e., Nicotrol) and/or a nasal spray placebo
(made of common kitchen ingredients, including a very tiny amount of pepper extract also
called capsaicin). The investigators assess brain function through function magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI), which is a noninvasive procedure that uses a magnetic field to take
pictures of your brain while you are performing certain tasks. This study will help us to
learn more about why some childhood experiences (adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs)
contribute to increased risk for smoking and other substance use.