Attentional and approach biases for smoking cues in smokers: an investigation of competing theoretical views of addiction

Abstract

Rationale: Different theories of addiction make conflicting predictions about whether attentional and approach biases for smoking-related cues are enhanced, or reduced, as a function of the level of nicotine dependence.

Objective: These theoretical views were evaluated by examining cognitive biases in smokers.

Methods: We monitored the eye movements of 41 smokers (predominantly young adults, who smoked from one to 40 cigarettes per day) as they completed a visual probe task in which smoking-related and matched control pictures were presented. Participants also completed a stimulus-response compatibility task, which measured the tendency to approach smoking-related cues, and a rating task.

Results: Smokers with lower levels of nicotine dependence showed greater maintained attention and faster approach responses to smoking-related cues. Longer gaze times for smoking cues were associated not only with lower levels of nicotine dependence, but also with higher levels of craving.

Conclusions: Overall, the results seem consistent with an integrated 'incentive-habit' model of addiction.