Investigation of Brain Oxygenation and Blood Flow in Smokers (OEF)

In this study, cerebral oxygenation and tobacco-related attentional bias in smokers and non-smokers will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

In this study, the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) are to be measured in smokers and non-smokers using MRI. On the one hand, the influence of chronic smoking (i.e. smokers versus non-smokers) and on the other hand the effect of acute nicotine administration (in smokers) on these parameters will be examined. Furthermore, the influence of these parameters on fMRI results is to be investigated using the example of a stimulus-reaction task. It can be assumed that the OEF does not change through nicotine administration, but differs in smokers and non-smokers and is associated with the strength of tobacco addiction in smokers. CBF and CMRO2 are expected to be reduced in abstinent smokers, but can be normalized by nicotine administration. In this study, 20 smokers and 10 never-smokers will be investigated. Never-smokers will be examined once with MRI and questionnaires, whereas smokers will be examined twice: before and after a smoking break.