Nicotine abstinence produces content-specific stroop interference (original) (raw)

Abstract

Adult, male smokers were randomly assigned to be nicotine abstinent for 12 h (_n_=10) or to smoke normally for the same period of time (_n_=10). Performance on a modified version of the Stroop (1935) color-naming task, where subjects named the color of ink in which each of a series of words was written, showed that abstinent smokers took significantly longer to color-name words related to cigarette smoking (e.g., Lighter) than to color-name neutral control words (e.g., Pennant). Non-abstinent smokers showed a significant difference in the opposite direction. These results suggest that nicotine abstinence decreases the ability to ignore the meaning of smoking-related information. This finding supports the hypothesis that abstinence produces a content-specific shift in attentional focus. The present pattern of results cannot be explained by a general decrease in cognitive function due to nicotine abstinence.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Psychology, University of California, 90024, Los Angeles, CA, USA
   Todd M. Gross
2. West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Wadsworth and Brentwood Division, Wilshire and Sawtelle Boulevards, 90073, Los Angeles, CA, USA
   Murray E. Jarvik & Martin R. Rosenblatt

Authors

1. Todd M. Gross
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2. Murray E. Jarvik
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3. Martin R. Rosenblatt
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Gross, T.M., Jarvik, M.E. & Rosenblatt, M.R. Nicotine abstinence produces content-specific stroop interference.Psychopharmacology 110, 333–336 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02251289

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• Received: 12 March 1992
• Revised: 06 July 1992
• Issue Date: February 1993
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02251289

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