Sex differences in negative affective response during nicotine withdrawal

Authors: Hogle, Joanne M.; Curtin, John J.

Source: Psychophysiology, Volume 43, Number 4, July 2006 , pp. 344-356(13)

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Abstract:

This study examined physiological indicants of the neurobiological mediators of negative affect during acute nicotine withdrawal. Eighty subjects (41 male) were assigned to one of four groups (24-h deprived or nondeprived dependent smokers, occasional smokers, and nonsmokers) and participated in an instructed fear conditioning paradigm involving cued administration of electric shock. Negative affective response was measured with fear-potentiated startle during cues that signaled electric shock and during the postcue offset recovery period. Salivary cortisol and self-report measures were also collected. Fear-potentiated startle results indicated that affective recovery postcue offset was delayed in nicotine-deprived women. Nicotine-deprived women also displayed elevated cortisol levels throughout the fear conditioning procedure.

Keywords: Smoking withdrawal; Negative affect; Sex differences; Fear-potentiated startle; Salivary cortisol

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2006.00406.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA

Publication date: 2006-07-01