Neurocognitive Effects of Mobile Cognitive Bias Modification Games on Smokers

Poster No:

945 

Submission Type:

Abstract Submission 

Authors:

Shin Ah Kim1, Seowoo Kim1, Ji-Hye Lim2, Won-Jun Suh2, Hyun-Chul Kim2

Institutions:

1Delvine, Inc., Seoul, South Korea, 2Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea

First Author:

Shin Ah Kim  
Delvine, Inc.
Seoul, South Korea

Co-Author(s):

Seowoo Kim  
Delvine, Inc.
Seoul, South Korea
Ji-Hye Lim  
Kyungpook National University
Daegu, South Korea
Won-Jun Suh  
Kyungpook National University
Daegu, South Korea
Hyun-Chul Kim  
Kyungpook National University
Daegu, South Korea

Introduction:

More than half of individuals who have quit smoking ultimately revert back to being smokers within a week [1]. It is known that smokers' cognitive biases toward stimuli, including attentional bias (AT), approach bias (ApB), and impulsive response (IR), play a key role in relapses among smokers [2,3]. Prior research has demonstrated that cognitive bias modification training (CBM) has the potential to rectify these biases and aid individuals in quitting smoking [4,5]. Nevertheless, CBM may appear less attractive because of its repeated nature, resulting in the withdrawal of participants. In order to tackle this problem, a few studies have implemented gamification CBM in mobile applications (apps) and assessed its efficacy [6]. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of the use of CBM apps on implicit attitudes and neural activation in response to smoking-related stimuli. Furthermore, although the importance of the intention to stop smoking in the interventions has been recognized [7], it remains unexplored whether this intention significantly impacts the efficacy of CBM apps. Therefore, we aimed to examine the efficacy of our newly developed CBM app, which includes games designed to address AB, ApB, and IR, and the impact of this app on implicit attitudes and brain activation in response to smoking-related stimuli. In addition, we investigated whether the intention to quit smoking influences the neurocognitive effects of the CBM intervention.

Methods:

A total of 52 male heavy smokers participated in the study. Prior to the experiment, their intention to quit smoking was evaluated, and all individuals scored above 5 on the contemplation ladder. They were randomly assigned to use either a mobile application including a smoking diary and educational materials (no game group, NG), or one that included additional CBM games (game group, OG). Over two weeks, participants utilized their designated application on a daily basis. Before and after the intervention period, they performed a personalized Implicit Association Test (p-IAT) designed to evaluate implicit attitudes toward smoking cues. Their daily smoking behavior was collected from the smoking diary implemented in the app. Lastly, we recorded Event-Related Brain Potentials (ERPs) in response to smoking-related stimuli compared to neutral stimuli and measured the amplitude of the late positive potential (LPP).

Results:

The participants were split into two groups according to their contemplation ladder scores: moderate intention group (MI) and high intention group (HI). Behaviorally, a three-way repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA) with Time (pre, post), Intention (MI, HI), and Intervention (OG, NG) on both the p-IAT, and daily smoking revealed significant interactions. Post-hoc analysis indicated that OG showed a greater decrease in p-IAT score compared to NG. However, this effect was only observed in the HI. Similarly, OG demonstrated a more substantial decrease in daily smoking, but this effect was observed only in the HI. In addition, the same rmANOVA on the LPP in response to smoking-related stimuli also revealed significant interaction. OG showed a greater LPP toward smoking-related stimuli compared to neutral stimuli. which was only observed in the HI.

Conclusions:

The findings indicated that the CBM games can change the implicit attitudes toward smoking in a negative way, decrease daily smoking, and increase brain activation associated with negative emotional arousal in response to smoking-related stimuli. Notably, the impact of the intervention is influenced by the individual's intention to quit smoking. Hence, our mobile CBM games appear to be efficacious in aiding smokers to quit smoking, particularly when they have a strong determination to quit.

Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:

Emotion and Motivation Other 2

Higher Cognitive Functions:

Executive Function, Cognitive Control and Decision Making 1

Keywords:

Addictions
Cognition
Electroencephaolography (EEG)
Emotions

1|2Indicates the priority used for review

Provide references using author date format

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