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Instructions control whether nicotine will serve as a reinforcer.

J R Hughes, R W Pickens, W Spring

The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

|October 1, 1985

Summary

Nicotine gum reinforced smoking cessation in ex-smokers, but only when participants believed it contained nicotine. Instructions influenced nicotine

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Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Behavioral Science
Addiction Research

Background:

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a common smoking cessation aid.
Understanding the reinforcing properties of nicotine is crucial for optimizing NRT effectiveness.
Previous research suggests nicotine's psychoactive effects drive its reinforcing properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether nicotine gum acts as a reinforcer for ex-smokers.
To determine the role of participant beliefs and perceived side-effects in nicotine gum self-administration.
To examine the influence of instructional sets on nicotine's reinforcing effects.

Main Methods:

Three studies involved ex-smokers abstaining from smoking and having access to nicotine (2 mg) and placebo gums.
Participants received different instructional sets regarding the gum's contents and potential side-effects.
Self-administration of nicotine and placebo gums was recorded over a two-week period.

Main Results:

When participants believed they received nicotine gum, they self-administered it significantly more than placebo.
This reinforcing effect was diminished when participants were led to believe placebo gum had more side-effects.
Instructions altered participants' beliefs about the gums, controlling whether nicotine served as a reinforcer.

Conclusions:

Nicotine's ability to act as a reinforcer is highly dependent on participant beliefs and expectations.
Instructions can override the inherent pharmacological effects of nicotine in controlling self-administration.
This study demonstrates for the first time that instructions can modulate whether a drug acts as a reinforcer.

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