A-117: Smoking, Brain Function and Outcome in Adolescents.
(Einar Mencl, PI of Haskins' subcontract)

Research Goals. The primary goal of this project is to evaluate the relationship between the effect of recent tobacco use and of nicotine withdrawal on activation of neural circuits that mediate performance of tasks involving verbal working memory and selective attention. We additionally examine whether adolescent tobacco users with greater changes in brain function and cognitive performance in response to recent tobacco use are at greater risk for progression of tobacco use, manifested by heavier use, more severe symptoms of nicotine dependence, and lower rates of abstinence, at one year follow-up.

Current Status. Funding began on September 1, 2003.

[This project is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH Grant DA-14655).]