Tobacco Craving and Eyeblink Startle Modulation Using 3D Immersive Environments

Abstract

Both the cue reactivity and startle reflex modulation paradigms have been used in addiction research to investigate the motivational mechanism of craving. However, while there is a growing body of literature that indicates the utility of 3D technology in addiction-relevant cue reactivity research, no study has been reported on its utility using the startle reflex modulation paradigm. The aim of the present study was to extend the 3D technology to research on tobacco craving using the startle reflex methodology. Participants were 32 university students who smoked more than 10 cigarettes daily. They participated in a psychophysiological testing to assess the modulation of the startle reflex induced by viewing pleasant, unpleasant, and tobacco-related 3D immersive environment stimuli (3D-IEs). Results confirmed that 3D-IEs were effective in inducing emotional states to modulate the startle response. Pleasant and unpleasant 3D-IEs modulated the startle response, as expected: The reflex was increased while viewing unpleasant stimuli and decreased while viewing pleasant ones. Tobacco-related 3D-IEs were similar to unpleasant stimuli in increasing the startle response. However, they were subjectively evaluated as positive, which suggests that the mechanism under lying craving coactivates both aversive and appetitive motivational tendencies.