Effect of Images on Cigarette Packs on Brain Waves

Smoking is considered a gateway to drug use and other risky behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of images (neutralized and warning) on tobacco product packaging on brain wave patterns of smokers.

A semi-experimental study was designed. The statistical population included all male students of Tabriz University in 2017-18. The alpha-peak, theta, alpha, SMR, and beta frequency bands of these individuals were quantitatively recorded. Data were then analyzed by repeated-measures analysis using SPSS version 21 software.

The results showed that the main effect of recording position (P <0.001), the main effect of the frequency band (P <0.001), and the interactive effect of recording position and frequency band (P <0.001) were significant. Warning images were more effective than neutral images. The mean beta was 10.21 for warning images, 8.03 for neutral images, and 7.25 for resting.

Designers should revise the structure of alert messages on cigarette packs such as the plot, size, and type of images, reform items such as repeating the message image and neutralizing the image, and pay low attention to the attractiveness of the brand.