Vaping and smoking cue reactivity in young adult non-smoking electronic cigarette users: A functional neuroimaging study

Introduction: The rapid growth in the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among non-smoking young adults is concerning, as it raises the potential for chronic vaping and nicotine addiction. A key characteristic of drug addiction is the elevated neural response to conditioned drug-related cues (i.e., cue reactivity). Generalized reactivity to both vaping and smoking cues may signify an increased risk for smoking initiation in non-smoking vapers. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate brain responses to vaping and smoking cues in young adult non-smoking vapers.

Methods: Sixty-six young adult non-smoking vapers underwent functional MRI while viewing visual cues pertaining to vaping, smoking, and nicotine-unrelated unconditioned reward (i.e., food). A priori region-of-interest analysis combined with exploratory whole-brain analysis was performed to characterize neural reactivity to vaping and smoking cues in comparison to food cues.

Results: The medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex, regions that play a key role in drug cue reactivity, 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.

Conclusions: Despite not currently smoking combustible cigarettes, young adult vapers exhibited heightened neural susceptibility to both vaping and smoking cues within brain systems associated with cue reactivity. The findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction and smoking initiation risk in this critical population and may contribute to the development of science-based interventions and regulatory measures in the future.

Implications: The escalating vaping prevalence among US non-smoking young adults is alarming, due to its potential ramifications for nicotine addiction development. Nicotine addiction is characterized by elevated neural response to conditioned nicotine-related cues. Using functional neuroimaging, we showed that young adult non-smoking vapers exhibited heightened neural susceptibility to both vaping and smoking cues within brain systems previously 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. Our findings may contribute to the development of science-based interventions and regulatory measures addressing the vaping epidemic.