Noreen Rahmani1,2, Jonathan Chung3, Moshe Eizenman4, Pingping Jiang5, Helena Zhang1,2, Peter Selby2,6, Laurie Zawertailo7,8. 1. Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 2. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Nicotine Dependence Service, 1025 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J2H4, Canada. 3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 4. Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 5. Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China. 6. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 7. Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. laurie.zawertailo@camh.ca. 8. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Nicotine Dependence Service, 1025 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J2H4, Canada. laurie.zawertailo@camh.ca.
Abstract
RATIONALE: One of the behavioural features of tobacco use disorder is the presence of attentional bias (AB) to smoking-related stimuli. However, much of the research investigating these associations have been limited to the use of reaction-based indices. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate differences in AB to smoking, affective, and sensation-seeking cues in smokers and non-smokers using novel, free-viewing, eye-tracking technology. Secondary aims included investigating impulsivity-by-group interaction effects on AB to sensation-seeking cues. METHODS: Participants were either otherwise-healthy smokers of at least 8 cigarettes per day or otherwise-healthy non-smokers (< 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and no smoking in the past year). AB was measured using a free-viewing, eye-tracking system. Participants were presented a series of slides divided into 3 themes: smoking, affective, and sensation-seeking. Each slide contained 4 images (1 theme-related, 1 neutral, 2 competitive). Primary outcome measure was the difference in the proportion of time spent viewing the theme-related cue to neutral cue. Impulsivity was measured using a monetary delayed discounting task. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 50 smokers (41 ± 12 years old) and 50 age- and sex-matched non-smokers (40 ± 14 years old). Smokers spent over 2 times longer looking at smoking-related images than non-smokers (F = 25.50, p < 0.001). As well, greater impulsivity was significantly associated with increased AB to sensation-seeking cues (R2 = 0.059, F = 2.98, p = 0.04) in smokers but not non-smokers. No differences were found on AB to affective cues. CONCLUSION: The eye-tracking procedure is a sensitive tool for assessing AB in smokers compared to non-smokers to both smoking and sensation-seeking cues.
RATIONALE: One of the behavioural features of tobacco use disorder is the presence of attentional bias (AB) to smoking-related stimuli. However, much of the research investigating these associations have been limited to the use of reaction-based indices. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate differences in AB to smoking, affective, and sensation-seeking cues in smokers and non-smokers using novel, free-viewing, eye-tracking technology. Secondary aims included investigating impulsivity-by-group interaction effects on AB to sensation-seeking cues. METHODS: Participants were either otherwise-healthy smokers of at least 8 cigarettes per day or otherwise-healthy non-smokers (< 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and no smoking in the past year). AB was measured using a free-viewing, eye-tracking system. Participants were presented a series of slides divided into 3 themes: smoking, affective, and sensation-seeking. Each slide contained 4 images (1 theme-related, 1 neutral, 2 competitive). Primary outcome measure was the difference in the proportion of time spent viewing the theme-related cue to neutral cue. Impulsivity was measured using a monetary delayed discounting task. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 50 smokers (41 ± 12 years old) and 50 age- and sex-matched non-smokers (40 ± 14 years old). Smokers spent over 2 times longer looking at smoking-related images than non-smokers (F = 25.50, p < 0.001). As well, greater impulsivity was significantly associated with increased AB to sensation-seeking cues (R2 = 0.059, F = 2.98, p = 0.04) in smokers but not non-smokers. No differences were found on AB to affective cues. CONCLUSION: The eye-tracking procedure is a sensitive tool for assessing AB in smokers compared to non-smokers to both smoking and sensation-seeking cues.
Authors: Timothy B Baker; Megan E Piper; Danielle E McCarthy; Matthew R Majeskie; Michael C Fiore Journal: Psychol Rev Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 8.934
Authors: Janet Audrain-McGovern; Daniel Rodriguez; Leonard H Epstein; Jocelyn Cuevas; Kelli Rodgers; E Paul Wileyto Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2009-05-14 Impact factor: 4.492