Current Projects

Appetitive Nature of Drug Cues Assessed by Startle
A recently completed project investigated drug cue reactivity among nicotine dependent participants.  Smokers who desired to quit smoking (Contemplators) and those who have no intention of quitting (Precontemplators) completed a battery of psychological and physiological assessments.  Preliminary results were published, supporting contended findings that drug cues can be assessed as physiologically pleasant, using the Affective Modulation of the Startle Reflex (AMSR) Paradigm.  Data collection for this investigation continued, collecting data on a non-smoking sample as well.  Data set includes: Drug cue reactivity using AMSR, EKG, SCR, and Self-ratings (Standardized Positive, Negative, Neutral IAPS images also presented).  Additional variables included: Carbon monoxide, blood pressure, Transtheoretical measures, alcohol use disorder risk, psychopathy, various substance use, sleep history, and family history of smoking.

Physiological Assessment as Treatment Effect in Drug Addiction Treatment
Treatment for substance use disorders have improved greatly in recent years, with effective  behavioral and pharmacological treatments currently in use and promising treatments on the horizon.  Measuring this treatment effect in substance use disorders presents a specific problem.  Presently, the gold-standard barometer of treatment effect is based on patient relapse.  For example, common dependent variables include time to relapse, proportion of relapse at follow-up, and substance use behaviors subsequent to relapse.  The laboratory is starting several projects which will investigate physiological techniques of gauging treatment effectiveness in substance use disorders 

Anxiety and Smoking Status
Many students smoke socially or while drinking only.  Some of these individuals will continue on to become addicted to nicotine (i.e., full-time smokers).  The laboratory is beginning a new study investigating factors that increase this risk potential.  Given the behavioral correlates of smoking, and pharmacological effects of nicotine, our focus is on the interplay of various anxiety related disorders and risk for transitioning into full-time smoking status.