title: Differences in delay discounting between smokers and nonsmokers remain when both rewards are delayed.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When offered a choice between a small monetary reward available immediately (SmallNow) versus a larger reward available after a delay (LargeLater), smokers select the SmallNow alternative more than nonsmokers. That is, smokers discount the value of the LargeLater reward more than nonsmokers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether this group difference was due to smokers overweighting the value of rewards available immediately compared with nonsmokers, we examined whether the group difference was also seen when both alternatives were delayed, i.e., when choosing between a SmallSoon reward and a LargeLater reward.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Experiment 1, smokers and nonsmokers completed a task including SmallNow versus LargeLater choices and SmallSoon versus LargeLater choices. In Experiment 2, smokers and nonsmokers completed the same task but with hypothetical choices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses using hyperbolic and double exponential (β-δ) models replicate prior findings that smokers discount the LargeLater reward more than nonsmokers when the smaller reward is available immediately. The smoker-nonsmoker difference was also seen when the smaller reward was slightly delayed, though this effect was primarily driven by heightened discounting in male smokers. However, for potentially real rewards only, this smoker-nonsmoker difference was significantly reduced when the smaller reward was delayed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The smoker-nonsmoker difference in discounting is not confined to situations involving immediate rewards. Differences associated with potentially real versus hypothetical rewards and gender underscore the complexity of the smoking-delay discounting relationship.
authors: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, L470, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA. mitchesu@ohsu.edu
authors: Suzanne H
authors: SH
authors: Mitchell
authors: Vanessa B
authors: VB
authors: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012201:Reward; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors