Topography of sham and real puffing examined using a paced smoking regimen

Topographical patterns of normal puffing on a cigarette may be reflected in the topographical patterns of sham puffing (Morris Br Gale, 1994). To test further the possibility of measuring behavior associated with cigarette sm oke self-administration without actual smoke intake, we compared sham and r eal puffing using a paced smoking regimen under different levels of smoke d eprivation. Cigarette smokers were instructed to draw and inhale six times on their unlit and then subsequently on their lit cigarette. Intensity, max imum, area and duration of puffs were lower for sham as opposed to real puf fing; however, sham and real puffing showed parallel changes in response to deprivation, and significant positive correlations were found between the two puffing conditions for puff intensity, maximum and area. Therefore, we confirmed a similarity of real puffing with puffing under placebo condition s. Discussed was smoking as an automatic motor behavior. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.