Before discussing the effect of cigarette smoking in the unpleasant
state on the LPP (Experiment 2), the effect of cigarette smoking in the
emotionally neutral state in Experiment 1, in order to establish baseline
data, should be discussed. In Experiment 1, we found different patterns
of change of the LPP between after smoking and non-smoking; the LPP
was decreased by smoking, but not by non-smoking. Given that the LPP
amplitude reflects the arousal level (Cuthbert et al., 2000; Schupp et al.,
2000; Weinberg et al., 2012), the results suggest that cigarette smoking
in the emotionally neutral state decreases the arousal level, while nonsmoking
does not. Since emotionally neutral images were presented before
and after the break in Experiment 1, it would be difficult to interpret
this result as an effect of smoking on stress reduction. However, it
might be suggested that cigarette smoking in the neutral state reduces
the arousal level and thus results in relaxation