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Brain/Craving Response to Smoking Cues After Oral Nicotine Pouch Use

Cue-Exposure Response Evaluation: Brain Reactivity to ONPs

Who can join

Ages 21 to 55 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 21 years - 55 years
* Self-reported use of cigarettes within the past 30 days
* Biochemical confirmation of cigarette use:

  o Carbon monoxide (CO) breath sample ≥10 ppm
* Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score ≥5, indicating moderate to high nicotine dependence
* Fluent in English
* Willing to try an oral nicotine pouch
* Willing to abstain from nicotine for at least 12 hours prior to each experimental session

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age younger than 21 years or older than 55 years
* Biochemical evidence inconsistent with recent cigarette use:

  o CO breath sample \<10 ppm
* Expressed intent to reduce or quit nicotine use within the next 30 days
* History of medical conditions contraindicated for nicotine use (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, recent cardiac events)
* Primary use of non-cigarette products (e.g., cigars, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco)
* Prior use of oral nicotine products in their lifetime

About the study

Oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) are non-combustible nicotine products that may reduce cigarette craving and smoking cue-induced brain activity, supporting their potential as harm-reduction tools for adults who smoke cigarettes. This within-subject, repeated-measures study will evaluate the acute effects of a single 6 mg oral nicotine pouch on subjective craving and prefrontal neural responses to smoking-related cues using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants will complete assessments before and after nicotine pouch administration following overnight nicotine abstinence to characterize changes in craving and neural cue reactivity.

What is being tested

• Oral Nicotine Pouch (other)
• Smoking Cue Reactivity Task (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Southern California · Participants: 45 · Started: Apr 30, 2026

Contact the study team

• USC Nicotine and Tobacco Studies · Phone: 213-821-0807

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07698470

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Quitting Smoking (Tobacco Use Disorder)
• Smoking and Youth
• Harm Reduction

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.