Vaping and Smoking Cue Reactivity in Young Adult Nonsmoking Electronic Cigarette Users: A Functional Neuroimaging Study

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the neural mechanisms of vaping and smoking cue reactivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in young adult nonsmoking vapers. The study aimed to test the hypothesis that the brain cue-reactivity circuits would show a greater response to vaping and smoking cues compared to natural reward (food) cues in young adult nonsmoking vapers. The researchers performed a priori analysis focusing on regions of interest (ROIs) that are highly relevant to cue reactivity and conducted an exploratory whole-brain analysis to test for other brain regions.

Key Points:

* The study included 66 nonsmoking vapers aged 18-29 years old.
* Participants underwent fMRI while viewing visual cues pertaining to vaping, smoking, and food.
* The researchers performed a priori analysis focusing on ROIs that are highly relevant to cue reactivity.
* The medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex showed significantly increased neural response to vaping cues compared to food cues.
* The posterior cingulate cortex additionally showed increased neural responses to smoking cues compared to food cues.
* The findings suggest increased incentive salience of vaping cues and high self-relevance of vaping behavior among vapers.
* The observed smoking cue reactivity among nonsmoking vapers may reflect generalized neurocognitive susceptibility to signals of nicotine availability.
* The study's findings may contribute to the development of science-based interventions and regulatory measures addressing the vaping epidemic.

Main Message:
The study's findings highlight the potential risks associated with vaping, particularly among young adults who do not intend to use vaping to help quit smoking. The researchers' use of fMRI to examine the neural mechanisms of vaping and smoking cue reactivity provides valuable insights into the brain's response to vaping and smoking cues. The study's findings suggest that young adult nonsmoking vapers exhibit heightened neural susceptibility to both vaping and smoking cues within brain systems associated with cue reactivity. Such cross-reactivity to both types of nicotine cues may serve as the mechanism underlying nicotine addiction and smoking initiation risk in this population. The study's findings may contribute to the development of science-based interventions and regulatory measures addressing the vaping epidemic.

Jiaying Liu, Zhenhao Shi, Jessica L Fabbricatore, Joshua T McMains, Allison Worsdale, Erin C Jones, Yidi Wang, Lawrence H Sweet, Vaping and Smoking Cue Reactivity in Young Adult Nonsmoking Electronic Cigarette Users: A Functional Neuroimaging Study, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 27, Issue 4, April 2025, Pages 762–766, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae257