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Scientists claim cigarette cravings can be overcome by looking at flickering dots on a hand-held computer.

They say the dots have the effect of interfering with the mind's ability to conjure up vivid thoughts of smoking.

Laboratory tests have shown this effectively kills the desire for a cigarette - at least for the moment.

Scientists now hope to produce an anti-smoking palm-top programme that can be used anywhere, anytime.

Dr Jon May, from Sheffield University, developed the idea after discovering the important role visual imagery plays in addiction.

Initial experiments used everyday pictures to distract smokers. This was followed up using a grid of black and white squares which randomly changed colour. The dots flicker at the rate of 1,000 times a second.

Speaking at the British Association Festival of Science at Salford University, Dr May said: "It interferes with parts of the working memory you use to build up mental pictures. The effect is to make the mental pictures less vivid, and people don't realise that's what it's doing."

In tests, smokers denied cigarettes had their cravings reduced to the same level as another group that was allowed to smoke. The volunteers looked at the dots for short bursts of six and 15 seconds, said Dr May.

"If you can extinguish the craving at that moment, that particular craving episode will have gone away," he said.

"We're hoping to produce a dozen palm-tops that people can carry around with them. Every time they feel a craving they can look at the flickering dots programme and their craving will go."

Story filed: 18:47 Thursday 11th September 2003

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