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CompletedNCT05651334Updated Mar 8, 2024

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Smokers: an Examination of Mediating Neural Pathways.

A Phase 2 interventional study of Active repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Sham repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Smoking, sponsored by Kent State University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-03-08.

Sponsored by Kent State University · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Jul 2023, 3 years 3 months ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
6
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on a regulation of craving task (ROC task) and evaluate the feasibility of targeting rTMS via fMRI based neuronavigation. Specifically, we will examine BOLD activation within the DLPFC when control over craving is exerted in order to identify if 1) the task produces reliable activations in an area capable of being targeted by a standard figure-8 coil and 2) examine if the coordinates of the area are distinct from the area targeted via anatomical neuronavigation alone. Last, we will examine if rTMS, compared to sham, is capable of improving cognitive control over craving measured at outcome. The current pilot study will examine these aims in a sample of tobacco dependent adults (N=16) (with final sample size dependent on availability of funds).

Read the detailed description

The study will include functional magnetic resonance imaging at baseline as well as demographic, psychological, and tobacco use assessments. Following initial assessment, participants will undergo one active rTMS session (20 Hz rTMS, 900 pulses per session, applied to left DLPFC). The outcome session will include assessments repeated from baseline.

The current proposal will examine the following aims. Aim 1: To test the potential for active rTMS to improve cognitive control of craving. Hypothesis: Active rTMS (compared to sham rTMS) will result in significant improvement in control over craving assessed by self-reported craving during the ROC task as well as in terms of activity in prefrontal regions associated with cognitive control during the ROC task.

Aim 2 (feasibility): To examine the feasibility of using fMRI BOLD activation in the DLPFC during the ROC task to target rTMS. BOLD activations during successful control over craving trials will be examined in terms of their reliability within participant and their feasibility as a target for rTMS delivered via standard figure 8 coil (capable of inducing synaptic firing 1.5-3.0 cm beneath the scalp). Additionally, the coordinates for the target identified via BOLD activation during the ROC task will be compared to the coordinates for the target identified by using standard neuronavigation to the DLPFC via anatomical fMRI, in order to determine if these areas are distinct in terms of the direct effect of the stimulation field (approximately 5 cm2).

02

Conditions studied

  • Smoking

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03

In context

Smoking

1,509 studies on the registry are indexed under Smoking; 193 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 6 is below the median of 115 across 1,164 interventional studies indexed under Smoking.

Browse Smoking studies →

Lead sponsor

Kent State University is the lead sponsor of 33 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Smokers endorsing atleast moderate dependence (total Fagerstrom for Cigarette Dependence score > 4)
  • Endorsing no specific plan to quit smoking in the next 3 months.
  • Must meet safety guidelines for application of rTMS
  • 18-60 years of age
  • Smoked cigarettes regularly for at least one year
  • Currently smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day
  • Have a carbon monoxide (CO) level greater or equal to 10 ppm
  • Currently be using no other nicotine products.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects will be excluded if they meet criteria for current alcohol (moderate - severe), current substance dependence, current affective disorder (depression, dysthymia, or mania) or current psychotic symptoms as assessed by the (MINI) International Neuropsychiatric Exam
  • Are currently pregnant or lactating, or intend to become pregnant
  • Have a health condition for which rTMS is
  • Submit a urine drug screen positive for illicit substances or substance misuse.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
6 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Active repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

    rTMS will be delivered with a MagPro R-30 magnetic stimulator (MagVenture, Farum, Denmark) Cool-B65 A/P (Active/Placebo). Participants will receive 900 pulses of 20 Hz rTMS per session at 110% of the Motor threshold (MT) (45 20-pulse trains of 1 second duration with an inter-train interval of 20 seconds). MT will be established to determine the intensity of stimulation for each participant, as recommended by safety guidelines. MT will be defined as the amount of energy required to induce a visible twitch in contralateral hand in at least 50% of stimulations. The target stimulation site will be the left DLPFC, specifically: located 6 cm anterior of the MT site identified with assistance from the neuro-navigation system to ensure that the target is located in the middle of the frontal gyrus, in the lateral part of Brodmann Area (BA) 9, near the border of BA 46.

    Device: Active repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

  • Sham comparator
    Sham repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

    Sham rTMS will appear identical to active treatment, with the exception that the sham side of the coil will be used resulting in no stimulation being applied to the participant, while providing a sensation of stimulation.

    Device: Sham repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Interventions

  • DeviceActive repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

    Active stimulation

  • DeviceSham repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

    Sham stimulation

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Regulation of Craving Task

    Self report ratings of cue induced craving for smoking after instruction. Specifically, differences in craving following positive vs. negative instructions will be compared between active stimulation and sham stimulation groups at the final outcome session, accounting for baseline values (similar to methods detailed in (Kober, Kross, Mischel, Hart, \& Ochsner, 2010). Kober, H., Kross, E. F., Mischel, W., Hart, C. L., \& Ochsner, K. N. (2010). Regulation of craving by cognitive strategies in cigarette smokers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 106(1), 52-55. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.07.017

    Time frame: Assessed during the baseline session and repeated at the outcome session (following stimulation), occurring on average less than one month apart. Primary outcome measure are the ratings collected at the final outcome session.

  2. Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU - Brief)

    Self report assessment smoking urges will be compared between active stimulation and sham stimulation groups at the final outcome session, accounting for baseline values.

    Time frame: Assessed during the baseline session and repeated at the outcome session (following stimulation), occurring on average less than one month apart. Primary outcome measure are the ratings collected at the final outcome session.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — NO IPD will be shared.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 8, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05651334
Lead sponsor
Kent State University
Responsible party
William Lechner. PhD (Assistant Professor, Kent State University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 15, 2022
Start date
Nov 8, 2022
Primary completion
Jul 13, 2023
Completion
Jul 13, 2023
Last update
Mar 8, 2024

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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