Neurobehavioral impacts of a social observer on risky decision-making in cigarette smokers
Poster No:
803
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
HeeYoung Seon1, Cheolin Yoo2, Dongil Chung1
Institutions:
1Ulsan National Institution of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, 2Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Cheolin Yoo
Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine
Ulsan, Republic of Korea
Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine
Ulsan, Republic of Korea
Introduction:
Smoking is a health risk behavior that is sensitive to social contexts. One of the primary reasons for initiating smoking is social influence, while social support groups are proposed as an effective way to maintain abstinence. However, it has not been systematically investigated about how smokers, individuals who are known for their biased preference towards the health risk behavior of smoking, respond to such social influences. Here, we tested two possible factors that may lead smokers to act riskily under social contexts. Specifically, we examined i) whether smokers perceive themselves as similar to others who engage in risky behaviors, and ii) whether smokers exhibit altered sensitivity to the influence of risky others.
Methods:
To investigate individuals' risky behavior in a social context, a three-phased gambling task was employed. The current task included 30 never-smokers (all male, age=53±4.82) and 42 ever-smokers (all male, age=55.79±6.54, smoking period = 10.69±6.32 years). After a brief phase where we assessed individuals' risk preferences, participants learned about the risk preferences of two social partners; unbeknownst to participants, one was risk-averse and the other was risk-seeking. At the end of this phase, individuals answered questions regarding their impressions of each partner (e.g., similarity). During the last phase, participants were asked to choose between one risky gamble and one safe (guaranteed) gamble. On some trials, they were instructed that either the risk-averse or risk-seeking partner would observe their choices. Throughout the task, electroencephalogram (EEG) data were recorded to explore the neural mechanisms underlying decisions under social influence.
Results:
First, we confirmed that never- and ever smokers showed comparable risk preferences (t(70)=-0.24, P=0.81) and learning accuracies (partner: F(1)=0.42, P=0.52, group: F(1)=0.087, P=0.77, interaction: F(2)=0.97, P=0.33). In the self-report questionnaire that followed the learning phase, ever-smokers tended to report that they considered the risk-seeking partner to be more similar to themselves than risk-averse partner (t(41)=-1.88, P=0.068, never-smoker: t(29)=0.23, P=0.82). Moreover, the proportion of participants who perceived the risk-seeking partner to be more similar to them was higher in ever-smokers than in never-smokers (chi-square=7.145, P=0.0075). In contrast to the common expectation about smokers, ever-smokers chose the risky option significantly less under the risk-averse partner's observation compared to their choice under no observation (t(41)=-2.73, P=0.0094), while such social influence was not observed under the risk-seeking partner's observation (t(41)=-0.76, P=0.45). This was paralleled by distinct ERP patterns in ever-smokers. Specifically, ever-smokers only exhibited exaggerated P300 amplitude for the risk-averse partner's observation compared with that for no observation trials (averse: t(40)=-2.11, P=0.043; seeking: t(40)=-0.35, P=0.73), which was not the case in never-smokers (averse: t(27)=-2.62, P=0.015; seeking: t(27)=-2.90, P=0.008).
Conclusions:
This study examined how smokers process social information in the context of risky decision-making. Our findings suggest that smokers may possess a biased belief in their similarity to others who engage in risky behaviors, affecting their decision-making in social contexts. Moreover, choices and the corresponding EEG data under social observation suggest that ever-smokers do not perceive the observation of the risk-seeking partner differently from a non-social situation. This research contributes to understanding how smokers are influenced by social context and may help develop effective social strategies for smoking cessation.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Psychiatric (eg. Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia)
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Social Cognition 1
Social Neuroscience Other
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Decision Making 2
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
EEG/MEG Modeling and Analysis
Keywords:
Electroencephaolography (EEG)
Psychiatric
Social Interactions
Other - Smoking, Risky decision-making. Conformity,Social context
1|2Indicates the priority used for review