title: Electromyographic activity of the lip muscle as a measure of puffing on a cigarette.
abstract: The electromyographic activity (EMG) of the upper lip muscle (m. orbicularis oris) during sucking on a cigarette was examined as a potential new measure of smoking behaviour. This parameter was examined under conditions of actual smoking, sham smoking and sucking on a straw. We applied psychophysical procedures (methods of magnitude production), normal and paced smoking, two conventional means to confirm puffing (video recording and changes in air pressure in a cigarette holder) on different groups of smokers (heavy and light). The data revealed that lip-EMG is a valid and reliable means to quantify sucking on a cigarette in a variety of situations common to the study of smoking. It was concluded that lip-EMG may be a sensitive and selective measure of motor activity associated with smoking. The lip-EMG may also be applied together with hand activity and breathing to identify individual puffing, particularly in heavy smokers and during actual smoking. Discussed were several applications of this method to the study of smoking and other motivated behaviour such as consumption of water and palatable fluids.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen, Gartenstrasse 29, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mucha
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pauli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*