Cognitive regulation of smoking behavior within a cigarette: Automatic and nonautomatic processes

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience of Addiction
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Limited research exists on the cognitive processes governing smoking behavior in tobacco-dependent individuals.
• Theories suggest drug use may be controlled by automatic processes developed through repeated use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the theory that smoking behavior is controlled by automatic processes.
• To investigate cognitive differences in smoking regulation between heavy and occasional smokers.

Main Methods:

• Participants completed a button-press reaction time (RT) task while smoking, pretending to smoke, or not smoking.
• Slowed RT indicated cognitive disruption and nonautomatic behavioral control.

Main Results:

• Occasional smokers' RTs slowed when smoking or pretending, unlike heavy smokers who only slowed when pretending.
• Heavy smokers' RTs were fast when smoking, suggesting automatic control of the behavior.
• Heavy smokers showed automatization of the entire smoking sequence, including pre-puff behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Smoking behavior is increasingly regulated by automatic processes with greater experience.
• Cognitive regulation of smoking differs between heavy and occasional smokers.
• Interventions targeting routinized behaviors during drug use may be beneficial.