ATTENTIONAL BIAS IN ACTIVE SMOKERS, ABSTINENT SMOKERS, AND NONSMOKERS

Attentional bias was studied with a modified version of the Stroop tes t in active smokers, abstinent smokers, and nonsmokers. The task was c olor-naming of incongruent color-words, smoking-related words, and neu tral words. The results showed that the active smokers used longer ver bal reaction time (VRT) to smoking-related words compared to abstinent smokers, i.e., indicating stronger attentional bias in the active smo kers. Furthermore, longer VRTs to the Stroop words compared to the smo king words and the neutral words were found only in nonsmokers and abs tinent smokers. Finally, a significant negative correlation was found between attitudes against smoking and VRTs to the smoking-related word s. Taken together the main finding was that the active smokers showed no differential response to the stimuli. This could be caused by a lac k of ability to modulate attentional processes in active smokers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.