Smoking and performance — a puff-by-puff analysis

“…The absorption of nicotine via this method of delivery is rather rapid (see Figure 1). Although, as the figure illustrates, the concentration of nicotine in blood declines rather quickly, there is no evidence that performance correlates with plasma nicotine levels in control subjects (Revell, 1988). This dose of nicotine produces maximal enhancement of P50 inhibition (Adler et al, 1992).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Effects of Nicotine on Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia

Harris

Kongs

Allensworth

et al. 2004

Neuropsychopharmacol

224

161

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Several lines of evidence suggest a pathophysiological role for nicotinic receptors in schizophrenia. Activation by nicotine alters physiological dysfunctions, such as eye movement and sensory gating abnormalities, but effects on neuropsychological performance are just beginning to be investigated. Nicotine-induced desensitization and the well-known tachyphylaxis of nicotinic receptors may confound such efforts. In all, 20 schizophrenics, 10 smokers, and 10 nonsmokers were assessed following the administration of nicotine gum and placebo gum. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status was administered. Nicotine affected only the Attention Index; there were no effects on learning and memory, language, or visuospatial/constructional abilities. Attentional function was increased in nonsmokers, but decreased in nicotine-abstinent smokers after nicotine administration. The effects of nicotine in schizophrenia do not extend to all areas of cognition. Effects on attention may be severely limited by tachyphylaxis, such that decremented performance occurs in smokers, while modest effects may be achieved in nonsmokers.

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“…It requires sustained attention but also has a moderate working memory load. Nicotine has been found to decrease reaction times and improve correct detections on this task (Foulds 1996, Warburton and Mancuso 1998, Baldinger et al 1995, Revell 1988. These findings are unlikely to reflect the reversal of a withdrawal-induced deficit in performance in nicotine-dependant smokers as they have also been observed in non-abstinent smokers (Warburton and Arnall 1994) and non-smokers (Wesnes & Revell, 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Acute effects of nicotine on visual search tasks in young adult smokers

2005

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Rationale Nicotine is known to improve performance on tests involving sustained attention and recent research suggests that nicotine may also improve performance on tests involving the strategic allocation of attention and working memory. Objectives We used traditional measures and eye tracking techniques to examine the effects of nicotine on visual search tasks. Methods In experiment 1 smokers and non-smokers performed pop-out and serial search tasks. Experiment 2 used a within subject design and a more demanding search task for multiple targets. In both studies, 2-hour abstinent smokers were asked to smoke one of their own cigarettes between baseline and post-tests. Results In experiment 1, Pop-out search times were faster after nicotine, without a loss in accuracy. Similar effects were observed for serial searches, but these were significant only at a trend level. In experiment 2, nicotine facilitated a strategic change in eyemovements resulting in a higher proportion of fixations on target letters. If the cigarette was smoked on the first trial (when the task was novel), nicotine additionally reduced the total number of fixations and refixations on all letters in the display. Conclusions Nicotine improves visual search performance by speeding up search time and enabling a better focus of attention on task relevant items. This appears to reflect more efficient inhibition of eye-movements towards task irrelevant stimuli, and better active maintenance of task goals. When the task is novel, and therefore more difficult, nicotine lessens the need to refixate previously seen letters, suggesting an improvement in working memory.

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Smoking and performance — a puff-by-puff analysis

Cited by 51 publications

References 6 publications

Effect of Abstinence on Audio-Visual Reaction Time in Chronic Smokers Pursuing a Professional Course

Effect of Abstinence on Audio-Visual Reaction Time in Chronic Smokers Pursuing a Professional Course

Effects of Nicotine on Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia

Acute effects of nicotine on visual search tasks in young adult smokers

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