The proposed study will help fill gaps in existing research by determining if nicotine-dependent cigarette smokers show changes in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) availability when compared to matched historical controls using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the radioactive ligand \[18F\]-ASEM (3-(1,4-diazabicyclo\[3.2.2\]nonan-4-yl)-6 \[18F\]fluorodibenzo\[b,d\]thiophene 5,5-dioxide), an α7 nAChR antagonist. The study will also explore whether α7 nAChR availability influences clinically relevant measures of tobacco abstinence (e.g., withdrawal and craving, cognitive impairment), self-reported cigarettes per day, and time to relapse during an 8-day quit attempt during which smokers can receive escalating payments contingent upon providing objective evidence (breath CO and urinary cotinine) of smoking abstinence.
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Distribution Volume (VT) as Determined by [18F]-ASEM PET Scan
Timeframe: 1 day
Total Withdrawal Score on the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) on Day of PET Scan
Timeframe: 1 day
Craving/Urge to Smoke as Determined Via the Questionnaire of Subjective Urges (QSU) on Day of PET Scan
Timeframe: 1 day