Breakdowns of eye movement control toward smoking cues in young adult light smokers

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 52; pp. 98 - 102
• Main Authors: DiGirolamo, Gregory J, Sophis, Ellen J, Daffron, Jennifer L, Gonzalez, Gerardo, Romero-Gonzalez, Mauricio, Gillespie, Sean A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2016; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Antisaccade; Attention; Control; Cues; Eye Movements; Eyes & eyesight; Female; Humans; Light smokers; Male; Nicotine; Psychiatry; Smoking; Smoking - psychology; Smoking cessation; Tobacco; Young Adult; Young adults; Light smokers; Control; Antisaccade; Young adults; Nicotine; Smoking
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.09.004

Abstract Background Many studies suggest that dependent smokers have a preference or attentional bias toward smoking cues. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of infrequent non-dependent light smokers to control their eye movements by look away from smoking cues. Poor control in the lightest of smokers would suggest nicotine cue-elicited behavior occurring even prior to nicotine dependency as measured by daily smoking. Methods 17 infrequent non-dependent light smokers and 17 lifetime non-smokers performed an antisaccade task (look away from suddenly appearing cue) on smoking, alcohol, neutral, and dot cues. Results The light smokers, who were confirmed light smokers and non-dependent (MFaegerström Dependency Score = 0.35), were significantly worse at controlling their eye movements to smoking cues relative to both neutral cues (p < .04) and alcohol cues (p < .02). Light smokers made significantly more errors to smoking cues than non-smokers (p < .004). Conclusions These data suggest that prior to developing clinical symptoms of severe dependence or progressing to heavier smoking (e.g., daily smoking), the lightest of smokers are showing a specific deficit in control of nicotine cue-elicited behavior.