Examining differences in attentional bias to smoking-related cues among black and white cigarette smokers: An event-related potential pilot study. (14th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruglass, Lesia M.; Root, James C.; Dambreville, Naomi; Shevorykin, Alina; Sheffer, Christine E.; Melara, Robert D.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 735(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-14
• Subjects: Attentional bias -- Cue reactivity -- Event-related potential -- Cigarette smokers; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: We examined attentional bias to tobacco cues among Black and White smokers. We recorded ERPs while smokers completed an attention task with tobacco cues. Tobacco cues yielded the largest congruity effect in Whites, but smallest in Blacks. Whites showed weaker P1 and P2 amplitudes to tobacco cues relative to Blacks. There may be a stronger draw in attention from tobacco cues in Whites than Blacks. Abstract: Black cigarette smokers experience higher craving, lower cessation rates, and increased health complications from tobacco use than Whites. We examined psychophysiological and behavioral differences in attentional bias to smoking cues between Black and White smokers. Thirty-one participants (Blacks, n = 20; MAge = 45 and Whites, n = 11, MAge = 47.64) discriminated line orientations while ignoring temporally flanking lines and smoking-related, positive-, negative-, and neutral-images as behavioral responses and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Results revealed a three-way interaction in reaction time among Group (White, Black), Congruity (congruent vs. incongruent flankers) and Cue (smoking-related, positive, negative) factors, F(2, 58) = 3.63, p = .03, MSe = .001, η2 = .002. Smoking-related cues yielded the largest congruity effects in Whites, but the smallest congruity effects in Blacks. Random presentation of smoking-related cues (re: baseline) weakened P1 ERP amplitude (125 ms after stimulus onset) in Whites, but not Blacks (Cue x Group x Task, F(3, 87) = 3.44, p < .05, MSe = 65.96, η2 = .01), suggesting an early sensory effect of smoking cues in Whites. The difference between Whites and Blacks in P2 amplitude (226 ms; amplitude weaker in Whites) was greatest to the smoking-related cues (Cue x Group, F(3, 87) = 2.81, p < .05, MSe = 60.68, η2 = .01), indicating a stronger draw in attention from smoking cues in Whites. Findings suggest White and Black smokers respond differently to smoking-related cues during early sensory processing. Findings need to be replicated.