A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds

The confounding effects of smoking are often overlooked in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research, potentially distorting results. By implementing clear guidelines and optimizing scan timing, studies can better account for tobacco's acute and withdrawal effects, improving precisi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Merel Koster, Marieke van der Pluijm, Lieuwe de Haan, Guido van Wingen, Jentien Vermeulen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:NeuroImage
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925003854
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849715318468902912
author Merel Koster
Marieke van der Pluijm
Lieuwe de Haan
Guido van Wingen
Jentien Vermeulen
author_facet Merel Koster
Marieke van der Pluijm
Lieuwe de Haan
Guido van Wingen
Jentien Vermeulen
author_sort Merel Koster
collection DOAJ
description The confounding effects of smoking are often overlooked in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research, potentially distorting results. By implementing clear guidelines and optimizing scan timing, studies can better account for tobacco's acute and withdrawal effects, improving precision and reproducibility of findings in studies involving smokers. Timing scans 1–2 h after the last cigarette in regular smokers (e.g. >10 cigarettes per day) may help minimize acute nicotine effects and early withdrawal symptoms. Further, we propose a standardized reporting framework that includes smoking frequency, nicotine dependence, and timing of the last cigarette relative to scanning.
format Article
id doaj-art-6161e237f2e5469fa62afdc9d33ae24c
institution DOAJ
issn 1095-9572
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series NeuroImage
spelling doaj-art-6161e237f2e5469fa62afdc9d33ae24c2025-08-20T03:13:26ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-08-0131712138210.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121382A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confoundsMerel Koster0Marieke van der Pluijm1Lieuwe de Haan2Guido van Wingen3Jentien Vermeulen4Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Amsterdam UMC - Department of Psychiatry, Meibergdreef 5, 1102AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsAmsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsAmsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsAmsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsThe confounding effects of smoking are often overlooked in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research, potentially distorting results. By implementing clear guidelines and optimizing scan timing, studies can better account for tobacco's acute and withdrawal effects, improving precision and reproducibility of findings in studies involving smokers. Timing scans 1–2 h after the last cigarette in regular smokers (e.g. >10 cigarettes per day) may help minimize acute nicotine effects and early withdrawal symptoms. Further, we propose a standardized reporting framework that includes smoking frequency, nicotine dependence, and timing of the last cigarette relative to scanning.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925003854Tobacco smokingNicotineMagnetic resonance imagingFunctional MRIWithdrawal
spellingShingle Merel Koster
Marieke van der Pluijm
Lieuwe de Haan
Guido van Wingen
Jentien Vermeulen
A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds
NeuroImage
Tobacco smoking
Nicotine
Magnetic resonance imaging
Functional MRI
Withdrawal
title A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds
title_full A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds
title_fullStr A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds
title_full_unstemmed A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds
title_short A blind spot in fMRI research: Overlooked tobacco smoking-related confounds
title_sort blind spot in fmri research overlooked tobacco smoking related confounds
topic Tobacco smoking
Nicotine
Magnetic resonance imaging
Functional MRI
Withdrawal
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925003854
work_keys_str_mv AT merelkoster ablindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT mariekevanderpluijm ablindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT lieuwedehaan ablindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT guidovanwingen ablindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT jentienvermeulen ablindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT merelkoster blindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT mariekevanderpluijm blindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT lieuwedehaan blindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT guidovanwingen blindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds
AT jentienvermeulen blindspotinfmriresearchoverlookedtobaccosmokingrelatedconfounds