Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
10:44
Comparing the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in a Novel In Vivo Exposure System
Published on: May 24, 2017
Smoking a virtual cigarette increases craving among smokers
Olaya García-Rodríguez1, Sara Weidberg, José Gutiérrez-Maldonado
1Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain. garciaolaya@uniovi.es
Addictive Behaviors
|June 25, 2013
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) smoking simulation significantly increases craving and heart rate in smokers. This virtual cigarette cue-exposure paradigm effectively triggers smoking urges, offering new therapeutic possibilities.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) effectively simulates smoking-related cues to increase craving.
- Previous research has not simulated the act of smoking itself using VR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of smoking a virtual cigarette on craving and heart rate.
- To evaluate VR-simulated smoking behavior as a cue-exposure paradigm.
Main Methods:
- 45 smokers were randomly assigned to three VR conditions: smoking a virtual cigarette, playing darts, or being in a virtual pub.
- Self-reported craving levels and heart rate (HR) were measured.
Main Results:
- Smoking a virtual cigarette significantly increased self-reported craving compared to other conditions.
- Heart rate (HR) also significantly increased in the virtual smoking condition.
Conclusions:
- Simulating smoking behavior in VR acts as an effective proximal cue for triggering craving.
- VR-based cue-exposure paradigms show potential for smoking cessation interventions.
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