Attentional bias for cannabis and nicotine related words in cannabis users

Abstract

Drug-associated cues can provoke conditioned emotional responses, such as the urge to use drugs. Attentional bias, is the degree to which attention is drawn to drug related stimuli compared to neutral stimuli. In the current study we used a Dutch version of the cannabis Stroop task to measure attentional bias for cannabis words in cannabis users and a control group. We developed a Dutch version of the nicotine Stroop task to measure attentional bias for cigarette related words in cannabis users and a control group. We measured cognitive control using the classical Stroop task. The present study did not find attentional bias differences for cannabis words between cannabis users and a control group. We also found no attentional bias differences for nicotine related words between the groups. In addition, we did not find a relation between attentional bias for cannabis related words and cannabis use and dependence. Similarly, we did not find a relation between attentional bias for nicotine related words and nicotine dependence. We did not find a relation between attentional bias for nicotine related words and nicotine craving, or attentional bias for cannabis words and cannabis craving. Contrary to expectations, within the group of heavy cannabis users the interference score on the classical Stroop task correlated negatively with attentional bias for cannabis related words. This study did not replicate previous studies concerning attentional bias for cannabis related and nicotine related words. Therefore, further research is needed to clearly understand the possible moderating role of cognitive control on the relationship between attentional bias for cannabis related words and cannabis use and dependence.