Event-related potentials reflecting smoking cue reactivity and cognitive control as predictors of smoking relapse and resumption

Rationale: Given that most attempts to quit smoking fail, it is critical to increase knowledge about the mechanisms involved in smoking relapse and resumption (i.e., the increase in smoking over time after a quit attempt). Neurocognitive measures, such as event-related potentials (ERPs), may provide novel insights into smoking relapse and resumption. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to investigate the association between smoking relapse and resumption and ERPs reflecting smoking cue reactivity (i.e., P300, LPP), inhibitory control (i.e., N2, P3), and error processing (i.e., error-related negativity (ERN), Pe). Methods: Seventy-two smokers viewed smoking and neutral pictures and performed a Go-NoGo and an Eriksen Flanker task, while ERPs were measured using electroencephalography. All smokers started a quit attempt in the week following the laboratory visit. Smoking behavior after the quit attempt was measured at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Both relapse (i.e., 7-day point prevalence at 12 weeks) and smoking resumption (i.e., the number of cigarettes a day at 4, 8, and 12 weeks) were used as outcome measures. Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that smaller P3 amplitudes, reflecting brain activation associated with inhibitory control, are related to an increased relapse risk. Latent growth curve analyses showed that reduced post-error slowing, the main behavioral measure reflecting error processing, is associated with stronger smoking resumption. ERPs reflecting smoking cue reactivity were unrelated to smoking relapse or resumption. Conclusions: The finding that smaller inhibitory control-related P3 amplitudes are associated with increased relapse risks suggests that strategies to increase inhibitory control in smokers are worth further investigation in the search for more effective smoking cessation interventions.