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Effects of nicotine and alcohol on affective responses to emotionally toned film clips

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Abstract

Rationale

Smoking abstinence can result in decreased affective reactions to positively valenced stimuli, and this can be reversed via smoking. Given their shared ability to trigger nucleus accumbens dopamine release, a priming dose of alcohol may likewise augment positive affective responses during abstinence.

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to replicate our previous finding that compared to satiation, abstinence from smoking will be associated with decreased ‘happiness’ responses to positively valenced film clips (Study 1) and to explore whether a priming dose of alcohol can substitute for nicotine by concomitantly enhancing such responses (Study 2). In both studies, ‘sadness’ responses to negatively valenced clips were also included.

Methods

Thirty-two and 77 smokers, respectively, in Studies 1 and 2 were randomly allocated to abstain from smoking for 10 h (abstinent smokers) or smoke as usual (satiated smokers). Participants then rated the extent to which they felt a list of emotions in response to each of 16 film clips. In Study 2, participants were additionally allocated to an alcohol manipulation in which they received either alcohol or placebo.

Results

In Study 1, nicotine administration increased abstinent smokers’ ratings of happiness and sadness to the corresponding film clips. In Study 2, nicotine and alcohol both enhanced positive reactivity to happy clips, and their effects were not additive. Alcohol but not nicotine likewise enhanced sadness responses to sad clips.

Conclusions

Abstinence from smoking can result in blunting of affective responses to positively toned stimuli, an effect that can be ameliorated by both nicotine and alcohol. The impact of nicotine on negative reactivity appears to be less robust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane, Stratford, London, E15 4NO, UK

    Lynne Dawkins

  2. Psychology Department, Goldsmiths College, University of London, Lewisham Way, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK

    Jane Powell

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  1. Lynne Dawkins
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  2. Jane Powell
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Correspondence to Lynne Dawkins.

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Dawkins, L., Powell, J. Effects of nicotine and alcohol on affective responses to emotionally toned film clips. Psychopharmacology 216, 197–205 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2197-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2197-4

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