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Conditioned responses elicited by experimentally produced cues for smoking
R F Mucha1, P Pauli, A Angrilli
1Institute of Medical Phychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Germany. mucha@uni-tuebingen.de
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|July 23, 1998
Summary
This study developed a human model for drug cues, finding that smoking cues increase cigarette consumption and preparatory behaviors, not acute physiological effects. This research helps understand cue-related processes in addiction.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Drug craving theories suggest drug cues elicit conditioned responses.
- Different theories propose drug cues cause drug-similar, compensatory, or motivational effects.
- Animal models are limited in differentiating cue-related processes in human addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and examine a human model of drug cues using a differential conditioning procedure.
- To investigate the effects of smoking cues on physiological and behavioral responses.
- To compare different cue-related phenomena in dependent individuals.
Main Methods:
- A two-sound differential conditioning procedure was used with smoking as the reinforcer.
- Participants underwent cue-preference testing after sound-smoking pairings.
- Physiological measures (heart rate, respiration, skin conductance, EEG, EMG) and smoking behavior were recorded.
Main Results:
- A conditioned preference for the smoking cue was observed.
- The smoking cue did not alter acute smoking effects but increased cigarette draws.
- Baseline behavior was largely unaffected, except for potential increases in EEG beta power and trapezius EMG.
Conclusions:
- Experimental models of drug cues in humans are valuable for studying addiction.
- Acquired drug cues can elicit incentive motivational effects and preparatory motor responses.
- Findings suggest potential for conditioned tolerance in response to drug cues.