Nicotine effects on biofeedback training

Biofeedback involving hand warming has become a frequently used procedure in health and stress management programs. The present research examined the effects of smoking on the ability to learn temperature control during biofeedback training. Three groups of female college students were compared: groups of smokers who smoked prior to the biofeedback session were compared to smokers who did not smoke and to nonsmokers. The results showed that the greatest increase in skin temperature was for nonsmokers, followed by smokers who did not smoke for at least 1 hr before the biofeedback session. The group of smokers who smoked just prior to the biofeedback were not able to increase their skin temperature. The basal skin temperature measured before treatment was higher for smokers than nonsmokers. The results are discussed in terms of the paradoxical physiological arousing effects and the self-reported tranquilizing effects of smoking.