Inhibitory Performance in Smokers Relative to Nonsmokers When Exposed to Neutral, Smoking- and Money-Related Pictures

Abstract

: Introduction: Smoking is associated with significant negative health consequences. It has been suggested that deficient inhibitory control may be implicated in (nicotine) addiction, but its exact role has not yet been elucidated. In the current study, our aim was to investigate the role of inhibitory control in relation to nicotine addiction in contexts that differ in terms of reward. Methods: Participants filled out questionnaires and performed a go/no-go task with three conditions. In one condition, the stimuli were neutral color squares, and in the reward conditions, these were smoking-related pictures and money-related pictures, respectively. In total, 43 non-abstinent individuals that smoke and 35 individuals that do not smoke were included in the sample. Results: The main results showed that individuals that smoke, relative to individuals that do not smoke, had reduced inhibitory control in both reward contexts, relative to a neutral context. The reductions in inhibitory control were mirrored by speeded responses. Conclusions: Individuals that smoke seem to present with reduced inhibitory control, which is most pronounced in contexts of reward. Consistent with incentive sensitization theory, the reduced inhibitory control may be (at least partly) due to the heightened approach bias to reward-related stimuli as indicated by the speeded responses.

Effects of Smoking Social Cues on Inhibitory Control in Smokers: An Event-Related Potential Study

“…Thus, when smokers are exposed to smoking-related cues, their inhibitory control is further reduced, resulting in increased cravings and smoking behaviors. To support these theoretical assumptions and demonstrate the weakening effect of smoking-related cues on inhibitory control, researchers have used modified Go/NoGo tasks to investigate whether inhibitory control is weaker in smoking-related contexts than in neutral contexts among smokers ( Detandt et al, 2017 ; Kräplin et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Luijten, 2016 ; Luijten et al, 2011 ; Tsegaye et al, 2021 ; Wilcockson et al, 2021 ). In modified Go/NoGo tasks, participants respond to “Go” or “NoGo” signals in a drug-related context (i.e., exposed to a lighting cigarette) or neutral context (i.e., exposed to a toothbrush).…”

“…In modified Go/NoGo tasks, participants respond to “Go” or “NoGo” signals in a drug-related context (i.e., exposed to a lighting cigarette) or neutral context (i.e., exposed to a toothbrush). Some behavioral studies have shown that smokers have shorter Go reaction times (RTs) and more NoGo response errors in smoking-related contexts than in neutral contexts ( Li et al, 2021 ; Tsegaye et al, 2021 ). However, some behavioral evidence has not shown that impairment of inhibitory control in smokers is more pronounced under smoking-related backgrounds ( Kräplin et al, 2019 ; Wilcockson et al, 2021 ).…”