An investigation on the effects of a visuospatial imagery task on smoking related craving

Abstract

Twenty eight undergraduate students participated in a study to examine the impact of a visuospatial imagery intervention and an articulatory cognitive intervention on self-reported smoking related craving, based on the framework introduced by the Elaborate Intrusion Theory of craving. A significant interaction between the duration of the experiment and self-reported craving was obtained, with a significant negative impact on craving after the articulatory cognitive task, indicating that the visuospatial imagery intervention demonstrated an inhibitory effect on substance related elaboration. A simple modality-specific imagery task, blocking intrusive substance related imagery by utilizing the same cognitive components of craving, worked to subdue the intensity of craving and may therefore provide the means of an independent strategy for abstaining tobacco smokers.