Heat loss and anticipatory finger vasoconstriction induced by a smoking of a single cigarette

The effects of smoking of a single cigarette on finger vasomotion were investigated in 15 healthy subjects classified according to their smoking habit into one of 3 groups: heavy, light, and non-smokers. Finger pulse amplitude was recorded using a plethysmographic mercury gauge before, during and after cigarette smoking and finger heat loss evaluated using direct calorimetry before and after smoking. Heavy smokers showed a decrease of finger pulse amplitude at the sight of the cigarette and before the first puff. Finger pulse amplitude in light smokers decreased during cigarette smoking. In heavy smokers and light smokers finger heat loss decreased after smoking. In non-smokers, there was no change either in finger heat loss or in finger pulse amplitude. Anticipatory finger vasoconstriction in response to the sight of a cigarette may represent a pavlovian conditioning occurring in heavy smokers only.