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Memory retrieval reduces nicotine cravings, smoking

Smoking-related memory retrieval followed by extinction training reduced craving responses and number of cigarettes smoked daily among individuals with nicotine addiction, according to recent findings.

“Recent research on addiction-related memory processes suggests that protracted extinction training following brief cue-elicited memory retrieval (ie, retrieval-extinction training) can attenuate/eradicate the ability of cues to elicit learned behaviors,” Lisa J. Germeroth, PhD, of Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and colleagues wrote. “One study reported that cue-elicited craving among detoxified heroin addicts was substantially attenuated following [retrieval-extinction] training and through 6-month follow-up.”

To expand on these findings, researchers conducted a prospective, mixed-design, human laboratory randomized clinical trial among 168 volunteer smokers with current nicotine dependence who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day and were open to smoking cessation. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive smoking-related memory retrieval followed by extinction training (n = 44) or nonsmoking-related retrieval followed by extinction training (n = 44). Treatment groups had a mean age of 48.3 and 46.7 years, respectively.

At 1-month follow-up, mean craving response to familiar and novel smoking cues was significantly lower among participants who received smoking-related retrieval-extinction training.

The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was significantly lower at 2 weeks and 1 month among participants who received smoking-related retrieval-extinction training.

Treatment groups did not significantly differ regarding physiological responses, urine cotinine level, number of days abstinent, lapse and relapse.

“These exciting findings highlight two potential routes for minimally invasive plasticity-modulating treatments, which could mark a step change in the treatment of tobacco use disorder and substance use disorders more generally. However, they also raise a number of questions,” Sunjeev K. Kamboj, PhD, DClinPsy, and Ravi K. Das, PhD, of University College London, wrote in an accompanying editorial. “Regardless, these promising translational successes provide reasons to be optimistic about the future of memory therapies for substance use disorders.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.