Smoking through a topography device influences some aspects of smoking behavior and reward

Background: Smoking topography is an important methodological tool for studying smoking behavior. It allows researchers to accurately measure or control how a cigarette is smoked on various indices including the number of puffs, puff duration, and puff volume. Only a few published studies have directly compared reactions to smoking through a topography device to naturalistic smoking (e.g., Lee et al., 2003; Blank, Disharoon, & Eissenberg, 2009). Methods: Using a within subjects design, 58 three-hour abstinent smokers (38% female, mean of 12 cigarettes per day) smoked their preferred brand of cigarettes one time through a portable topography device and one time naturalistically in counterbalanced order across two laboratory sessions. Smoking behavior (e.g., number of puffs, smoking duration) and subjective ratings of smoking motivation and reward (urge, mood, smoking satisfaction, etc.) were assessed. Results: No differences were found between smoking topography and naturalistic smoking for smoking urge, positive or negative affect, or nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Participants took slightly more puffs (N= 1.5) when smoking through the topography device but there were no significant differences in smoking duration or carbon monoxide boost. Scores on smoking satisfaction, enjoyment of respiratory tract sensations, psychological reward, and craving reduction were all significantly greater during naturalistic smoking compared to topography. Conclusions: Smoking through a topography device did not significantly alter outcomes on important measures commonly used in smoking research including smoking urge, affect and nicotine withdrawal. However, some of the other rewarding characteristics of smoking appeared to be diminished when smoking through a topography device relative to naturalistic smoking. The influence of topography on the smoking experience should be considered when being employed in research.