N/A
Completed N=343
GeoScan and Remote Geo Smoking Study: Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Smokers' Exposure to Retail Environments
Smoking, Tobacco · Smoking · Smoking, Cigarette
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04279483 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
343
Serious AEs
2.0%
Results posted
Aug 2025
Primary outcomePrimary: Self-reported Cigarette Craving During the Experimental Manipulation Period — 48.33; 49.14; 47.17 units on a scale — p=0.74
Summary
The purpose of the study is to learn more about the relationships between the brain, behavior, and natural daily exposure to particular environments, including the places where smokers regularly spend time and specific retail outlets.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Self-reported Cigarette Craving During the Experimental Manipulation Period |
48.33; 49.14; 47.17 | 0.74 |
| PRIMARY Self-reported Number of Cigarettes Smoked Per Day During the Experimental Manipulation Period |
12.72; 12.88; 13.64 | 0.49 |
| PRIMARY Brain Activity (Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in a Priori Regions of Interest, in Response to Standardized Smoking vs Nonsmoking Cues. |
0.021; -0.025; 0.035 | — |
| PRIMARY Brain Activity (Measured by fMRI), in a Priori Regions of Interest, in Response to Retail Smoking vs Nonsmoking Cues |
0.062; 0.012; 0.018 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Be between the ages of 21-65
- Smoke at least 5 cigarettes a day for the past 6 months
- Own an iPhone or Android smartphone that can be used on a daily basis
- Plan to be in PA, DE, or NJ (for the remote cohort) or the Philadelphia metropolitan area (for the fMRI cohort) for the next 3 months, with the exception of short periods of absence (no longer than 3 consecutive days and no more than 10 days in total)
- Read and speak English fluently
- Fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Smoking exclusion criteria:
- Current enrollment or plans to enroll in a smoking cessation program in the next 3 months
- Plan to use nicotine substitutes or smoking cessation treatments in the next 3 months
- Urine cotinine test at Session 1 indicates a non-smoker level of cotinine
General exclusion criteria:
- Pregnancy
- Inability or refusal to install Google Maps or LifeData applications on mobile phone
- Inability or refusal to upload Google Timeline data after receiving instructions and guidance from a researcher
- Inability to provide informed consent or complete any of the study tasks as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician.
- Any physical or visual impairment that may prevent the individual from using a computer keyboard or completing any study tasks.
- During the first two weeks of the study, failure to complete the study tasks (e.g., response to at least 75% of the brief EMA survey questions).
- The phones of potential participants will be assessed by trained recruiters either during in-person recruiting or during a phone call used to invite eligible participants who filled out the online screening survey for the first appointment. Specifically, recruiters will assess whether phones' functionality allows easy reception and sending of text messages, the use of the geolocation tracking and LifeData applications, whether potential participants have an existing Google account (created prior to Jan 2024), and whether phones have an adequate battery life to allow participants to fulfill study requirements.
- Any medical condition or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or treatment, as determined by the Principal Investigator and/or Study Physician.
Drug & fMRI exclusion criteria (fMRI cohort only - 822815 participants and fMRI subset of 850796 participants):
- Currently or recently (within the last 5 years) receiving treatment for substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, or stimulants). Treatment of substance use disorders that occurred greater than 5 years prior to study participation is acceptable if participants are in stable condition
- Report consuming any of the following drugs within the past two weeks or indicate plans to do so within the coming 6 weeks during the initial recruitment call: Benzodiazepines, Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, MDMA, Methadone, Barbiturates, PCP, Heroin, Oxycodone, Opiates (e.g., morphine, heroin), Buprenorphine.
- Test positive for any of the above drugs at Appointment 1 (822815) or at the scan appointment (850796)
- Schizophrenia or psychosis, regardless of treatment status
- History of stroke or other neurological disorder likely to affect cognition
- For 850796, history of seizures, brain tumor, penetrative head trauma that cracks the skull
- Psychiatric hospitalization within the past year
MRI exclusion criteria:
- For 850796, history of problems in previous MRI that are likely to occur again
- For 822815, left-handedness
- Propensity to experience claustrophobia
- Ferromagnetic metal in the body, including anything that might set off a metal detector. Examples include bullet shrapnel, metal shavings (e.g., from welding without protection), or any implant that may be attracted to or damaged by magnets. Dental fillings are generally acceptable.
- Metal in the body of an unverifiable origin
- Non-removable piercings
- Non-removable retainers or other dental work not compatible with fMRI.
- Any orth
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04279483). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.