Evaluating the Effect of Nicotine on Eye Movements and Related Behaviors in Electronic Cigarette … (NCT07604246) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Evaluating the Effect of Nicotine on Eye Movements and Related Behaviors in Electronic Cigarette Users, NICS-EYES Trial
United States25 participantsStarted 2026-08-01
Plain-language summary
This clinical trial evaluates the effect of nicotine on eye movements and related behaviors in people who use electronic (e)-cigarettes. Nicotine is an addictive, poisonous chemical found in tobacco. It can also be made in the laboratory. When it enters the body, nicotine causes an increased heart rate and the use of oxygen by the heart and a sense of well-being and relaxation. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco products in young adults in the United States. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine rapidly and the potential for addiction (abuse liability) is comparable to combustible cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration uses a combination of testing including self-reported scales, withdrawal assessments and behavioral tasks to evaluate the abuse liability of a nicotine product. Research has shown that nicotine alters movement of the eye (oculomotor) and the amount of nicotine in the blood impacts the extent of oculomotor function impairment. Despite this evidence linking nicotine to oculomotor changes, it has not been studied as a reliable marker for abuse in e-cigarette users. Studying eye movements can provide information about how the brain responds to nicotine and may help researchers develop better, more objective ways to measure how addictive nicotine products in e-cigarette users.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years – 50 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 21-50 years
* Daily use of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes for ≥ 6 months
* Ability to abstain from nicotine for at least 12 hours prior to study visits
* Fluent in English
* Willingness to complete two in-person laboratory visits and all study procedures
* Ability to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Use of combustible cigarettes or other tobacco/nicotine products on more than 5 of the past 30 days
* Current enrollment in a nicotine cessation program or intent to quit in the next 30 days
* Neurological conditions affecting eye movements (seizure disorder, movement disorders, head injury with loss of consciousness)
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision required; significant uncorrected visual impairment or ocular conditions affecting eye tracking
* Cardiovascular conditions for which nicotine use is contraindicated, substance use disorder (other than nicotine), or current nicotine cessation treatment
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Current medications affecting pupil size or eye movements (anticholinergics, stimulants, antipsychotics)
* Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with safe participation
* Age younger than 21 years or older than 50 years
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is studying how nicotine from e-cigarettes affects eye movements and things like reaction time and impulse control — given that I'm dealing with a smoking-related condition, is participating in a nicotine study something my care team thinks would be appropriate or safe for me right now?
2The trial isn't recruiting yet, so there's no guaranteed timeline for when it might open — how does that timing fit with where I am in my current treatment plan, and is it worth waiting to see if I'd even be eligible?
3Since this study involves participants actually using electronic cigarettes across two lab sessions and measuring nicotine levels in the blood, what would it mean for my health to be exposed to nicotine in a controlled research setting given my diagnosis?
4The trial is listed as 'Phase NA,' which means it's not a treatment trial testing a new therapy — it's observational or behavioral research — so how does joining this study compare to focusing on standard treatment options for my condition right now?
5The study is measuring things like impulse control and eye-tracking performance as well as subjective feelings about the drug — what would my doctor want to know about my current medications or health status before I even inquire about whether I might qualify for something like this?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in prosaccade latency and velocity
Timeframe: At baseline and at 5, 15 and 30 minutes post-nicotine administration, assessed up to completion of visit 2, up to 3 weeks
2
Change in antisaccade error rate and latency
Timeframe: At baseline and at 5, 15 and 30 minutes post-nicotine administration
3
Change in smooth pursuit gain across two laboratory sessions
Timeframe: At baseline and at 5, 15 and 30 minutes post-nicotine administration
4
Change in oculomotor performance
Timeframe: At baseline and at 5, 15 and 30 minutes post-nicotine administration
5
Plasma nicotine maximum concentration
Timeframe: Up to completion of visit 2, up to 3 weeks
6
Time to maximum concentration of plasma nicotine
Timeframe: Up to completion of visit 2, up to 3 weeks
7
Plasma nicotine area under the curve
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07604246
SponsorOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sponsor typeOTHER
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Primary completion2027-12-31
Contact for this trial
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center