Research interests

My research interests are in the effects of social drugs and drug-related stimuli, and the psychological and biological factors that underlie addiction and continued drug use. More specifically, my recent research has included the effects of acute alcohol consumption on various aspects of social cognition, including ratings of attractiveness and the perception of emotion in facial cues. We have ongoing work examining cognitive bias to drug-related cues and the effects of attentional retraining procedures on biases and cue reactivity, and I am currently conducting a series of studies investigating the relationship between smoking and anxiety, using a carbon dioxide challenge in smokers. In addition, I have ongoing work examining pharmacological augmentation of cue exposure techniques in smokers.

Consulting

• Transport Research Laboratory

Funding

• Munafò, M.R. (P.I.), Attwood, A.S., McClernon F.J. Effects of varenicline and cognitive bias modification on neural response to smoking related cues. Pfizer Investigator Initiated Research (2010-2012).
• Attwood, A.S. (P.I.), Munafò, M.R., Williams, T. A placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness of D-cycloserine in reducing cue reactivity during cue-exposure therapy in daily cigarette smokers. Global Research Awards for Nicotine Dependence (2010-2011), Project Grant $64,646 (non-fEC).
• Attwood A. S., Scott-Samuel N., Munafò M. R. (2010) Effect of glass shape on drinking rate and drinking topography in social alcohol drinkers. Alcohol Education and Research Council £3,670.
• Attwood A. S., Rogers P. J., Munafò M. R. (2009) Combined effects of acute alcohol and caffeine on cognitive performance and inhibitory control. Funded by UoB, Experimental Psychology small grants £1,180.