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Cognitive and Affective Mechanisms Underlying an Olfactory Approach to Modify Cigarette Craving
NCT04902469 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
The proposed study uses fMRI and behavioral measures in and outside the laboratory to investigate the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying the impact of pleasant olfactory cues (OCs) on cigarette craving. The investigators plan to randomize 278 participants to a pleasant OC condition or an odor blank (neutral) condition and due to anticipated drop out expect to run 250 adult (half female) smokers, including both daily and nondaily smokers through the protocol. This study involves three visits. In the first visit, participants will complete a baseline breath carbon monoxide reading, a brief odor threshold test, and complete a series of self-report measures. In the next session, participants who are 8-hrs deprived of nicotine will undergo a 60-minute fMRI scan that will include structural, resting state, and task-based data collection. The fMRI task involves completing a series of tasks designed to index responses linked to key neural networks found to relate to addiction (e.g., reward processing, working memory). Participants will also be exposed to smoking cues to heighten craving and then depending on their condition (randomly assigned) will either receive a pleasant or neutral (odor blank) OC. In the third session, behavioral data will be collected to test the impact of either a pleasant or neutral OC on cigarette craving using self-reported urge and behavioral measures linked to craving. Finally, for pilot purposes designed to offer data for a subsequent clinical study (beyond this study), participants will additionally complete a 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol in which they will monitor cigarette craving and initial data will be collected outside the laboratory to evaluate the impact of OCs on naturally occurring craving. It is hypothesized that pleasant OCs will disrupt craving brain states and attenuate craving (as compared to neutral olfactory cues). Further, it is hypothesized that individual variation in neural responses to cognitive
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Pleasant Odor
- BEHAVIORAL Odor Blank
Study Locations (1)
Pennsylvania
- The University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 250 participants |
| Start Date | 2021-12-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2026-06 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT04902469
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT04902469 describes a study currently listed as recruiting. 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 250 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Pittsburgh, which has 1,082 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 Craving appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions — of which Pleasant Odor 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: NCT04902469 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Pennsylvania. 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 NCT04902469 about?
NCT04902469 is a clinical study titled "Cognitive and Affective Mechanisms Underlying an Olfactory Approach to Modify Cigarette Craving". The proposed study uses fMRI and behavioral measures in and outside the laboratory to investigate the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying the impact of pleasant olfactory cues (OCs) on cigarette craving. The investigators plan to randomize 278 participants to a pleasant OC condition or an odor bla...
What is the current status of trial NCT04902469?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 250 participants. The study started on 2021-12-01. Estimated completion is 2026-06.
What conditions does trial NCT04902469 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Craving. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT04902469?
The interventions under investigation include: Pleasant Odor (BEHAVIORAL), Odor Blank (BEHAVIORAL). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT04902469?
This trial is sponsored by University of Pittsburgh, which has 1,082 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT04902469 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Pennsylvania. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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