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Acute and Chronic Nicotine Modulation of Reinforcement Learning
NCT01830842 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
The purpose of this study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the acute and chronic effects of nicotine on motivational behavior and prediction error-related neural activation. Nonsmokers (n = 24) and smokers (n = 24) will undergo fMRI scans on two separate occasions while performing a decision-making task that will elicit prediction error signals in the mesocorticolimbic pathway of the brain. Nonsmokers will be scanned once following an acute dose of nicotine and once following placebo administration. Smokers will be scanned once following smoking as usual and once following 24-hours of smoking abstinence, in order to measure the effects of nicotine withdrawal. The study team hypothesizes that acute nicotine will increase the prediction error signal in nonsmokers compared to placebo, and that nicotine withdrawal will decrease the prediction error signal in smokers compared to the normal satiated condition. Furthermore, nonsmokers (during the placebo condition) will have greater prediction error activation than smokers (during the satiated condition). The results of this study will inform whether the initiation and maintenance of smoking behavior could be facilitated by the effects of nicotine on reinforcement learning.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DRUG Placebo
- DRUG Nicotine polacrilex
- OTHER satiety
- OTHER abstinence
Study Locations (1)
North Carolina
- Duke University — Durham
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 54 participants |
| Start Date | 2014-02 |
| Est. Completion | 2016-08-31 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT01830842
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT01830842 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 54 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is Duke University, which has 1,129 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Nicotine Addiction appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 4 interventions — of which Placebo is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT01830842 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include North Carolina. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT01830842 about?
NCT01830842 is a clinical study titled "Acute and Chronic Nicotine Modulation of Reinforcement Learning". The purpose of this study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the acute and chronic effects of nicotine on motivational behavior and prediction error-related neural activation. Nonsmokers (n = 24) and smokers (n = 24) will undergo fMRI scans on two separate occasion...
What is the current status of trial NCT01830842?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 54 participants. The study started on 2014-02. Estimated completion is 2016-08-31.
What conditions does trial NCT01830842 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Nicotine Addiction. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT01830842?
The interventions under investigation include: Placebo (DRUG), Nicotine polacrilex (DRUG), satiety (OTHER), abstinence (OTHER). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT01830842?
This trial is sponsored by Duke University, which has 1,129 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT01830842 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across North Carolina. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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