The Effects of Nicotine on Music-Induced Emotion

Abstract

Nicotine is an available drug widely self-administered in the context of music (e.g. pubs, clubs). Furthermore, nicotine effects one’s physiology, which allowed us to test the effects of these physiological changes on the emotional experiences of music. We hypothesized that because nicotine changes one’s physiology it may also change one’s affective arousal in response to music. To test this, non-smokers were administered nicotine gum at either 2mg, 4mg, or placebo level. Participants then listened to 4 musical excerpts: happy, sad, neutral, and self-selected chill-inducing. After each listening, participants rated their emotional responses on 6 intensi-ty scales: arousal, pleasure, happy, sad, familiar, and liking. Although nonsignificant, results showed a trend, as nicotine levels increased pleasure and happy intensity ratings correspondingly decreased. Future research may be interested in testing these effects in dependent and nondependent smokers.