Introduction

When considering the clinical efficacy of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, non-pharmacologic influences, such as conditioned reinforcers (e.g. sensorimotor stimuli), must be considered in addition to nicotine. The present study parsed the influences of nicotine delivery and sensorimotor stimuli (i.e, similarity to smoking) on cravings and other immediate outcomes of e-cigarette use.

Method

Participants (N = 127 dual users) completed an experimental ad-lib vaping session in one of 4 conditions: Drug (open label nicotine vs non-nicotine e-cigarettes) crossed with delivery apparatus (normal e-cigarette vs altered sensorimotor apparatus). It was hypothesized that participants who were deprived of the usual vaping stimuli would report less craving reduction via vaping. Nicotine was hypothesized to enhance physiological outcomes.

Results

Moderate effects emerged for nicotine, whereas smaller effects were observed for the sensorimotor manipulation upon both cravings to smoke and cravings to vape. Contrary to the hypothesis, participants who vaped using the altered sensorimotor apparatus reported greater craving reduction compared to those who used normal e-cigarettes. Nicotine delivery also had moderate effects on psychological reward. Main effects were not moderated by gender, withdrawal, or dependence.

Conclusions

Findings support the role of nicotine in reducing cravings via vaping. They also suggest that sensorimotor similarities to smoking may be less important among experienced vapers or dual users. Indeed, in this sample, the altered sensorimotor apparatus may have reduced craving via distraction or other mechanisms.

中文翻译：

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尼古丁和感觉运动刺激对减少双重用户对吸烟和电子烟的渴望的不同影响

介绍

在考虑电子烟戒烟的临床疗效时，除了尼古丁之外，还必须考虑非药物影响，例如条件增强剂（例如感觉运动刺激）。本研究分析了尼古丁输送和感觉运动刺激（即与吸烟的相似性）对电子烟使用的渴望和其他直接结果的影响。

方法

参与者（N  = 127 双用户）在 4 种条件之一中完成了实验性的即兴电子烟会话：药物（开放标签尼古丁与非尼古丁电子烟）与递送装置（正常电子烟与改变的感觉运动装置）交叉。假设被剥夺了通常的电子烟刺激的参与者会报告通过电子烟减少的渴望减少。假设尼古丁可以增强生理结果。

结果

尼古丁出现了中度影响，而感觉运动操纵对吸烟的渴望和对电子烟的渴望的影响较小。与假设相反，与使用普通电子烟的参与者相比，使用改变的感觉运动装置的参与者报告的渴望减少更大。尼古丁的输送也对心理奖励有适度的影响。主要影响不受性别、戒断或依赖的影响。

结论

研究结果支持尼古丁在通过电子烟减少渴望方面的作用。他们还表明，在有经验的电子烟使用者或双重使用者中，与吸烟的感觉运动相似性可能不太重要。事实上，在这个样本中，改变的感觉运动装置可能通过分心或其他机制减少了渴望。