Attentional bias training and cue reactivity in cigarette smokers

Abstract

These data are the first to show alterations in attentional bias for smoking-related stimuli following a modified visual probe training procedure. Furthermore, post-training group differences in subjective craving suggest potential clinical utility of training procedures, although these effects may operate only in males. Future research should investigate whether multiple training sessions enhance post-training reductions in craving and cue reactivity, and the longer-term persistence of training effects.

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

“…Moreover, in one of the studies with smokers, posttraining AB correlated positively with craving to smoke in the attend group, but only among men 11 ; and in one of the studies about alcohol use, the urge to drink and beer consumption in the attend group was greater in the avoid alcohol. 51 In contrast, of the five studies that compared avoid (to drug) and control groups, only one found no differences between groups.…”

“…The fourth and final concern about study methods is training contingencies and follow-up assessments. Some studies found that awareness contingency improved efficiency, 9,11 and their authors suggested that explicit instructions about the purpose of training might affect results if these methods were applied clinically, and that participants should be made aware of experimental contingencies. 9 This systematic review focused on methods and results of studies about ABM using a specific modified visual probe task, which may be a limitation of this study.…”

“…The two studies that included attend (to drug) and avoid groups 11,51 found differences between groups, as AB increased in the attend groups and decreased in the avoid groups. Moreover, in one of the studies with smokers, posttraining AB correlated positively with craving to smoke in the attend group, but only among men 11 ; and in one of the studies about alcohol use, the urge to drink and beer consumption in the attend group was greater in the avoid alcohol.…”

“…11,12 Of the techniques to achieve ABM included in studies, the most commonly used is a modified version of a visual probe task developed in 2002. 7 In the standard visual probe task to assess attentional bias, 13 a pair of images, one related to the pathology (target) and one control, originally from the same context of the target but which does not offer any clues to the pathology, are displayed side by side simultaneously on the screen of a computer.…”

I Am Your Smartphone, and I Know You Are About to Smoke: The Application of Mobile Sensing and Computing Approaches to Smoking Research and Treatment

“…nicotine & tobacco research social networking/engagement (Richardson et al, 2013), cognitive training (Attwood, O'Sullivan, Leonards, Mackintosh, & Munafò, 2008), video messaging (Whittaker et al, 2011), and in situ cue-exposure treatment (Conklin & Tiffany, 2002).…”