Gregory J DiGirolamo1, Ellen J Sophis2, Jennifer L Daffron2, Gerardo Gonzalez3, Mauricio Romero-Gonzalez4, Sean A Gillespie2. 1. Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, United States; Division of Addiction, University of Massachusetts Medical School, United States. Electronic address: gdigirol@holycross.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, United States. 3. Division of Addiction, University of Massachusetts Medical School, United States. 4. Division of Addiction, University of Massachusetts Medical School, United States; MAYU of New England, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many studies suggest that dependent smokers have a preference or attentional bias toward smoking cues. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of infrequent non-dependent light smokers to control their eye movements by look away from smoking cues. Poor control in the lightest of smokers would suggest nicotine cue-elicited behavior occurring even prior to nicotine dependency as measured by daily smoking. METHODS: 17 infrequent non-dependent light smokers and 17 lifetime non-smokers performed an antisaccade task (look away from suddenly appearing cue) on smoking, alcohol, neutral, and dot cues. RESULTS: The light smokers, who were confirmed light smokers and non-dependent (MFaegerström Dependency Score=0.35), were significantly worse at controlling their eye movements to smoking cues relative to both neutral cues (p<.04) and alcohol cues (p<.02). Light smokers made significantly more errors to smoking cues than non-smokers (p<.004). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that prior to developing clinical symptoms of severe dependence or progressing to heavier smoking (e.g., daily smoking), the lightest of smokers are showing a specific deficit in control of nicotine cue-elicited behavior.
BACKGROUND: Many studies suggest that dependent smokers have a preference or attentional bias toward smoking cues. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of infrequent non-dependent light smokers to control their eye movements by look away from smoking cues. Poor control in the lightest of smokers would suggest nicotine cue-elicited behavior occurring even prior to nicotine dependency as measured by daily smoking. METHODS: 17 infrequent non-dependent light smokers and 17 lifetime non-smokers performed an antisaccade task (look away from suddenly appearing cue) on smoking, alcohol, neutral, and dot cues. RESULTS: The light smokers, who were confirmed light smokers and non-dependent (MFaegerström Dependency Score=0.35), were significantly worse at controlling their eye movements to smoking cues relative to both neutral cues (p<.04) and alcohol cues (p<.02). Light smokers made significantly more errors to smoking cues than non-smokers (p<.004). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that prior to developing clinical symptoms of severe dependence or progressing to heavier smoking (e.g., daily smoking), the lightest of smokers are showing a specific deficit in control of nicotine cue-elicited behavior.
Authors: Joseph R DiFranza; Judith A Savageau; Kenneth Fletcher; Judith K Ockene; Nancy A Rigotti; Ann D McNeill; Mardia Coleman; Constance Wood Journal: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2002-04
Authors: Gregory J DiGirolamo; Gerardo Gonzalez; David Smelson; Nathan Guevremont; Michael I Andre; Pooja O Patnaik; Zachary R Zaniewski Journal: J Dual Diagn Date: 2017-11-09