A Preliminary Study of Smoking Abstinence Effects on Acquisition and Reversal Learning in a Probabilistic Learning Task

Bibliographic Data

ID21645542
AuthorsSarah Tonkin (0000-0001-5638-4363, Department of Psychological Science, The University of Arkansas, corresponding author), Ashton R Baltazar (TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), Taylor A Love (TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), Jeremy S Langford (0000-0002-1057-4716, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), Laili K Boozary (TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), Michael S Businelle (0000-0002-9038-2238, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), W Kyle Simmons (0000-0002-0399-9003, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences), F Joseph McClernon (0000-0002-2846-980X, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine), Jason A Oliver (0000-0003-4615-9108, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center)
Year2026
Pages1-9
Publication date2026-05-20
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2026.2637153
PMID42163486
OpenAlexW7162013758
LanguageEN
References cited37

Background Cigarette dependence is characterized by persistent smoking despite shifts in reinforcement contingencies from primarily positive effects (e.g., mood enhancement) to more negative effects (e.g., smoking-related health problems). Reversal learning tasks evaluate individual differences in cognitive flexibility in response to shifting reinforcement contingencies. Little work has examined smoking abstinence effects on reversal learning in humans. Objectives This study evaluated the effect of smoking abstinence (versus smoking as usual [SAU]) on learning acquisition and reversal learning. Participants completed a reversal learning task twice over two visits. Abstinence condition (24-h abstinent versus SAU) was randomly assigned and counterbalanced across the two visits. Data was analyzed using mixed effects models. Results Participants (N = 51) were on average 38 years old, smoked 18 cigarettes per day, and were primarily White/Caucasian (73%) and female (73%). Results suggested learning acquisition was not significantly related to abstinence condition (ps > .13). A small improvement (5% difference) in reversal learning performance was observed during 24-h abstinence (mean optimal responding = 57%) compared to SAU (mean optimal responding = 52%; p = .01). Conclusions/Importance These results provide preliminary evidence that cigarette smoking may impair reversal learning with abstinence improving performance. However, future work is needed to understand task and participant factors that influence reversal learning processes

Abstinence · Cognition · Cognitive flexibility · Mood · Smoking cessation · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Mind wandering and attention

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