FMRI OF ALCOHOL-INDUCED URGE TO SMOKE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. While drinking and smoking are highly associated addictive behaviors, little is known about brain activity involved in alcohol-induced desire to smoke. Therefore, this pilot study aims to utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in order to discern brain regions activated by alcohol in the presence of visual smoking cues. It is predicted that areas that have been shown to be activated by other drugs of abuse, including mesolimbic dopamine, prefrontal cortex, and areas related to visuospatial attention will be particularly activated after alcohol compared to placebo beverage. The goal will be to enroll n=14 (7 male and 7 female) habitual drinker-smoker participants. Scanning will be performed at the University of Chicago Brain Research Imaging Center (BRIC) on a 3.0 Tesla GE Signa System (Milwaukee, WI). Subjects will complete standardized scales of cigarette craving at pre-drink baseline and during fMRI scanning, before and after presentation of both neutral and smoking-related visual cues. High resolution functional imaging will be obtained during the interval when blood alcohol levels are rising and peak increases in smoking urges are expected, based on several studies by the PI and her colleagues. The data will provide information on brain activity underlying cigarette craving increased by alcohol. The ultimate goal of this research is to help target treatment and prevention efforts to reduce concurrent heavy use of both substances.