Introduction

Smoking is believed partially reinforcing via immediate sensory perceptions. Yet, unknown is whether a cigarette’s relative reinforcing efficacy can be predicted by these perceptions and whether this relationship may vary due to constituents known to alter those perceptions.

Methods

Sensory perceptions of acute smoking were examined as predictors of subsequent cigarette choice behavior. Also tested was whether nicotine content or menthol affected this relationship. Adult dependent smokers (N = 37) participated in five sessions comparing cigarettes varying in nicotine contents (NIC; 1.3, 2.3, 5.5, 11.2, and 17.4 mg/g), relative to the very lowest nicotine content, 0.4 mg/g (VLNC). Non-menthol (n = 17) and menthol (n = 20) cigarettes—matched on nicotine—were provided based on participant preference. One NIC was compared versus VLNC per session (single-blinded); NIC content order was randomized across sessions on separate days. Perceptions (e.g., “liking”, “satisfying”) were measured immediately after initial sampling of NIC or VLNC, followed by a validated puff-by-puff choice procedure to determine preference for each NIC versus VLNC.

Results

NIC perceptions (difference from VLNC) and puff choices increased with nicotine. Menthol moderated associations between perceptions and nicotine; and between puff choices and nicotine. Perceptions were predictive of puff choice—greater magnitude of difference in perceptions between VLNC and NIC led to more NIC puff choices. When testing perceptions’ prediction of puff choices, neither the main effect of menthol or interaction of Perceptions X Nicotine Condition were significant.

Conclusions

Consistent with assumed—but rarely tested—causes of smoking reinforcement, sensory perceptions from a cigarette predict its relative reinforcing efficacy.

中文翻译：

---

急性主观感官知觉可预测烟熏尼古丁的相对增强作用

介绍

吸烟被认为是通过直接的感官知觉部分强化的。然而，未知的是是否可以通过这些感知来预测卷烟的相对增强功效，以及这种关系是否会因已知会改变这些感知的成分而变化。

方法

对急性吸烟的感官知觉被检查为随后的香烟选择行为的预测因素。还测试了尼古丁含量或薄荷醇是否会影响这种关系。成年吸烟者（N = 37）参加了五次会议，比较了尼古丁含量（NIC；1.3、2.3、5.5、11.2 和 17.4 毫克/克）相对于最低尼古丁含量 0.4 毫克/克（VLNC）的香烟）。根据参与者的偏好提供非薄荷醇 (n = 17) 和薄荷醇 (n = 20) 香烟——与尼古丁相匹配——。每个会话比较一个 NIC 与 VLNC（单盲）；NIC 内容顺序在不同日期的会话中随机分配。在对 NIC 或 VLNC 进行初始采样后立即测量感知（例如，“喜欢”、“满意”），

结果

NIC 感知（与 VLNC 的差异）和抽吸选择随着尼古丁而增加。薄荷醇调节感知和尼古丁之间的关联；在泡芙选择和尼古丁之间。认知可以预测烟团的选择——VLNC 和 NIC 之间认知差异的幅度越大，会导致更多的 NIC 烟团选择。在测试感知对抽吸选择的预测时，薄荷醇的主要影响或感知 X 尼古丁条件的相互作用均不显着。

结论

与假设但很少测试的吸烟强化原因一致，香烟的感官知觉预测其相对强化功效。