Baclofen Effects in Cigarette Smokers

The proposed project will utilize perfusion functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a functional candidate gene association approach (of dopaminergic addictions-targeted polymorphisms), and the dopamine-modulating and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) B receptor agonist, baclofen, to examine the brain and behavioral responses in smokers to appetitive smoking reminders (cues that motivate continued smoking and relapse). These studies will provide a means to identify an appetitive cue-sensitive pharmacologic-responsive endophenotype. Once brain/behavioral/genetic endophenotypes can be determined prior to treatment, smoking cessation treatments can be structured to meet individual needs, which will significantly improve treatment outcome.