Brain activity during anticipation of smoking-related and emotionally positive pictures in smokers and nonsmokers: A new measure of cue reactivity

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that a brain wave pattern known as stimulus preceding negativity (SPN) can index the anticipation of motivationally relevant events. The present study was the first to use SPN as an index of the motivational significance of smoking-related pictures. Emotionally positive and neutral pictures served as controls. The paradigm involved the following sequence: (a) presentation of a picture (S1) for 500 ms, (b) a fixation cross for 3,500 ms, (c) a second presentation (S2) of the same picture for 2,000 ms, and (d) another fixation cross signifying the beginning of a new S1-S2 trial using a different picture. The participants (N = 24, half smokers and half nonsmokers) viewed pictures from three categories (smoking-related, emotionally positive, or emotionally neutral). Consistent with predictions, smokers exhibited significantly greater mean SPN amplitudes in anticipation of smoking-related pictures relative to neutral pictures. Among nonsmokers the SPN was significantly smaller in anticipation of smoking pictures compared with neutral pictures. These findings are consistent with the incentive sensitization theory of addiction and other conditioning and cue-reactivity models.

Cybersex addiction: Experienced sexual arousal when watching pornography and not real-life sexual contacts makes the difference

“…computer, home environment) stimuli with the reinforcing effects of cybersex resulting in cue-reactivity and craving reactions, associated to repeated cybersex use elicited by conditioned stimuli. This is in line with literature on other behavioral and substance addictions (Braus et al, 2001;Garavan, Pankiewicz & Bloom, 2000;Goudriaan, De Ruiter, Van den Brink, Oosterlaan & Veltman, 2010;Gray, LaRowe & Upadhyaya, 2008;Grüsser et al, 2004;Ko et al, 2009;Parker & Gilbert, 2008;Starcke, Schlereth, Domaß, Schöler & Brand, 2012;Thalemann, Wölfling & Grüsser, 2007;Yang et al, 2009).…”

Differential cigarette-related startle cue reactivity among light, moderate, and heavy smokers

“…Given the prevalence of environmental smoking-related cues, it is important to better understand smokers’ reactivity to these cues in order to prevent relapse more effectively. Consistent with this reported association between relapse and the presence of smoking cues, many laboratory studies have demonstrated that smokers have greater reactivity to cigarette-related cues than non-cigarette-related cues by measuring self-reported craving (Payne, Smith, Sturges, & Holleran, 1996; Sayette, Martin, Wertz, Shiffman, & Perrott, 2001; Tidey, Rohsenow, Kaplan, & Swift, 2005), attentional bias (Ehrman, et al, 2002; Hogarth, Mogg, Bradley, Duka, & Dickinson, 2003; Waters, Shiffman, Bradley, & Mogg, 2003), event-related potentials (Parker & Gilbert, 2008; Versace, Minnix, et al, 2011; Versace, et al, 2010) and hemodynamic response (David, et al, 2005; Due, Huettel, Hall, & Rubin, 2002; Smolka, et al, 2006). …”

“…First, as a clinical trial of smoking cessation, the study did not include nonsmokers and non-treatment-seeking smokers. Therefore, we were not able to evaluate the specificity of the cigarette-related cue reactivity, although nonsmokers have not been found to respond to smoking stimuli as smokers do (David, et al, 2005; Due, et al, 2002; Ehrman, et al, 2002; Hogarth, et al, 2003; Parker & Gilbert, 2008). We were also unable to evaluate whether intention to quit may modulate cigarette-related cue and affective reactivity.…”

Effects of blockade of α4β2 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behaviour in rats

“…Smoking-related cues (e.g. the visual and olfactory stimuli associated with each puff) elicit subjective states that can trigger smoking and nicotine-seeking behaviour (Caggiula et al, 2001; Carter and Tiffany, 1999; Conklin et al, 2008; Cui et al, 2013; Garcia-Rodriguez et al, 2012; Gass et al, 2012; Miranda et al, 2008; Niaura et al, 1988; O′Brien et al, 1998; Parker and Gilbert, 2008; Rose, 2006; Tong et al, 2007; Winkler et al, 2011; Zhou et al, 2009). Accumulating data from animal studies have demonstrated a significant contribution of nicotine-associated cues to the resumption of nicotine-seeking behaviour (Abdolahi et al, 2010; Chiamulera et al, 2010; Cohen et al, 2005; Feltenstein et al, 2012; Fowler and Kenny, 2011; LeSage et al, 2004; Liu, 2010; Liu et al, 2006, 2008; Paterson et al, 2005; Shaham et al, 1997).…”