TY - JOUR

T1 - Substance usage intention does not affect attentional bias

T2 - implications from Ecstasy/MDMA users and alcohol drinkers

AU - Wilcockson, Thomas

AU - Pothos, Emmanuel

AU - Parrott, Andy

PY - 2019/1

Y1 - 2019/1

N2 - Background: An attentional bias towards substance-related stimuli has been demonstrated with alcohol drinkers and many other types of substance user. There is evidence to suggest that the strength of an attentional bias may vary as a result of context (or use intention), especially within Ecstasy/MDMA users. Objective: Our aim was to empirically investigate attentional biases by observing the affect that use intention plays in recreational MDMA users and compare the findings with that of alcohol users. Method: Regular alcohol drinkers were compared with MDMA users. Performance was assessed for each group separately using two versions of an eye-tracking attentional bias task with pairs of matched neutral, and alcohol or MDMA-related visual stimuli. Dwell time was recorded for alcohol or MDMA. Participants were tested twice, when intending and not intending to use MDMA or alcohol. Note, participants in the alcohol group did not complete any tasks which involved MDMA-related stimuli and vice versa. Results: Significant attentional biases were found with both MDMA and alcohol users for respective substance-related stimuli, but not control stimuli. Critically, use intention did not affect attentional biases. Attentional biases were demonstrated with both MDMA users and alcohol drinkers when usage was and was not intended. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the robust nature of attentional biases i.e. once an attentional bias has developed, it is not readily affected by intention.

AB - Background: An attentional bias towards substance-related stimuli has been demonstrated with alcohol drinkers and many other types of substance user. There is evidence to suggest that the strength of an attentional bias may vary as a result of context (or use intention), especially within Ecstasy/MDMA users. Objective: Our aim was to empirically investigate attentional biases by observing the affect that use intention plays in recreational MDMA users and compare the findings with that of alcohol users. Method: Regular alcohol drinkers were compared with MDMA users. Performance was assessed for each group separately using two versions of an eye-tracking attentional bias task with pairs of matched neutral, and alcohol or MDMA-related visual stimuli. Dwell time was recorded for alcohol or MDMA. Participants were tested twice, when intending and not intending to use MDMA or alcohol. Note, participants in the alcohol group did not complete any tasks which involved MDMA-related stimuli and vice versa. Results: Significant attentional biases were found with both MDMA and alcohol users for respective substance-related stimuli, but not control stimuli. Critically, use intention did not affect attentional biases. Attentional biases were demonstrated with both MDMA users and alcohol drinkers when usage was and was not intended. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the robust nature of attentional biases i.e. once an attentional bias has developed, it is not readily affected by intention.

KW - Alcohol

KW - Attentional bias

KW - Craving

KW - Intention

KW - MDMA/ecstasy

KW - Outcome expectancy

KW - alcohol

KW - midomafetamine

KW - adult

KW - Article

KW - attentional bias

KW - behavior

KW - control stimulation

KW - control strategy

KW - controlled study

KW - drinking behavior

KW - drug craving

KW - drug dependence

KW - dwell time

KW - eye tracking

KW - female

KW - human

KW - life expectancy

KW - male

KW - matched neutral

KW - outcome expectancy questionnaire

KW - performance

KW - questionnaire

KW - statistical analysis

KW - stimulation

KW - substance use questionnaire

KW - visual stimulation

U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.001

DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.001

M3 - Journal article

VL - 88

SP - 175

EP - 181

JO - Addictive Behaviors

JF - Addictive Behaviors

SN - 0306-4603

ER -