Temporal Dynamics of Smoking-Related Approach Biases: A Comparison Between Male Smokers and Nonsmokers

Smokers often exhibit a stronger automatic approach bias toward smoking cues than nonsmokers on the Approach-Avoidance Task. However, previous research has often neglected the temporal dynamic of automatic processes in addiction and focused on immediate approach biases instead of delayed approach biases.

Thirty-one male smokers and 30 healthy males were tested by an adapted Approach-Avoidance Task. In this task, immediate as well as delayed approach biases were assessed by manipulating cue-response time intervals.

When exposed to smoking cues, smokers have significantly stronger approach bias than nonsmokers at a delay of 0 ms, 600 ms, and 900 ms rather than at 300 ms.

This study found that smokers have a strong, immediate approach bias toward smoking-related cues. But this approach bias will keep changing with increased cognitive processing time. Temporal dynamics may be an important feature of the addiction-related approach bias.