Title:
Transcranial Direct Current Brain Stimulation Increases Ability to Resist Smoking.
Authors:
Falcone M; Bernardo L; Ashare RL; Hamilton R; Faseyitan O; McKee SA; Loughead J; Lerman C. Brain Stimulation. 9(2):191-6, 2016 Mar-Apr. [Journal Article. Randomized Controlled Trial. Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural]
BACKGROUND: The ability to exert self-control over temptation is a fundamental component of smoking behavior change. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been shown to modulate cognitive control circuits. Although prior studies show that stimulation reduces cigarette craving and self-reported smoking, effects on ability to resist smoking have not been investigated directly.
OBJECTIVES: We assessed effects of a single 20-minute session of 1.0 mA anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC with cathodal stimulation over the right supra-orbital area (vs. sham stimulation) on ability to resist smoking in a validated smoking lapse paradigm. METHODS: Twenty-five participants completed two tDCS sessions (active and sham stimulation) in a within-subject, double-blind, randomized and counterbalanced order with a 2-week washout period. Following overnight abstinence, participants received tDCS inthe presence of smoking related cues; they had the option to smoke at any time or receive $1 for every 5 minutes they abstained. After 50 minutes, they participated in a 1 hour ad libitum smoking session. Primary and secondary outcomes were time to first cigarette and cigarette consumption, respectively.
RESULTS: In multiple regression models, active tDCS (compared to sham) significantly increased latency to smoke (p = 0.02) and decreased the total number of cigarettes smoked (p = 0.014) during the session.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acute anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC (with cathodal stimulation over the right supra-orbital area) can improve ability to resist smoking, supporting the therapeutic potential of tDCS for smoking cessation treatment.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Institution:
Falcone, Mary. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: mfalc@mail.med.upenn.edu. Bernardo, Leah. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Ashare, Rebecca L. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Hamilton, Roy. Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Faseyitan, Olufunsho. Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. McKee, Sherry A. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Loughead, James. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Lerman, Caryn. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
