TOBACCO ABSTINENCE, SMOKING CUES, AND THE REINFORCING VALUE OF SMOKING

One definition of the reinforcing value of a drug is the degree to whi ch an organism will work to obtain it. Male and female smokers (n = 8 each) engaged in a task involving concurrent schedules of reinforcemen t for responding to receive cigarette puffs versus money on four occas ions, following overnight abstinence versus no abstinence and in the p resence of a lit cigarette (smoking ''cue'') or with no cigarette (2 x 2 design). Reinforcement schedule for puffs ranged from variable rati o 4 (VR4) to VR32, with schedule order during the first five trials (V R4 first, VR32 first) counterbalanced and repeated in reverse sequence during the second five trials. Schedule for money remained at VR4 dur ing all trials. Results indicated significantly greater responding for puffs after overnight abstinence and in the presence of the smoking c ue, although effect of the cue was specific to the ''leaner'' VR sched ules (VR16, VR32). Unexpectedly, not only was reinforcement schedule f or puffs a significant determinant of responding, but the order of the se schedules (i.e., VR4 first vs. VR32 first) produced a significant o verall difference in responding for puffs, especially in the presence of the cue. There was no difference in responding between males and fe males. These findings indicate that the reinforcing value of smoking i s increased by overnight abstinence, the presence of a lit cigarette u nder lean reinforcement conditions, and the order in which reinforceme nt schedules are presented.