The effect of nicotine on perceptual, ocular motor, postural, and vegetative functions at rest and in motion

Abstract

Nicotine has wellknown, unpleasant side effects, e.g., transient dizziness, nausea, and nicotine-induced nystagmus (NIN). To investigate factors influencing these effects, we addressed three questions: (1) Is the intensity of dizziness, nausea, NIN, and unsteadiness dependent on nicotine dosage? (2) Does the intensity of perceptual, ocular motor, vegetative effects, and postural imbalance correlate? (3) Do visual or vestibular motion stimuli produce and/or aggravate distressing dizziness and nausea? Sixty healthy non-smokers or occasional smokers participated; 40 were tested once before and six times after application of a nicotine nasal spray in doses of 1 mg or 2 mg with or without motion stimulation; 20 received a placebo nasal spray. Plasma nicotine concentrations were significantly related to nicotine dosage. Dizziness, nausea, NIN, and unsteadiness also depended on the nicotine dosage (p < 0.01).Nicotine blood concentration was a better predictor for the temporal dependence of nystagmus than nicotine dosage. Dizziness correlated highly with nausea (R = 0.63, p < 0.001). The degree of nicotine-induced nausea significantly correlated with postural imbalance. The time course of postural sway differed according to nicotine dosage and gender: for women, there was no clear relationship between sway magnitude and nicotine dosage, while men showed increased sway with higher dosage. Motion stimulation increased nicotine-induced dizziness and nausea, but did not significantly influence NIN or postural imbalance. Our data support the view that all measured adverse effects reflect dose-dependent nicotine-induced vestibular dysfunction. Additional motion stimulation aggravates dizziness and nausea, i.e., nicotine increases sensitivity to motion sickness.

The bilateral central vestibular system: its pathways, functions, and disorders

“…). Moreover, it explains, on the one hand, why certain toxic effects of antiepileptics or nicotine‐induced nystagmus are directionally specific . On the other hand, transitions from UBN to DBN or DBN to UBN with head tilt, convergence, or simply during the course of the disease reflect the intricate network that maintains directional balance in the pitch plane.…”

The first demonstration that a subset of women with hyperemesis gravidarum has abnormalities in the vestibuloocular reflex pathway

“…It has been shown, for example, that motion increases the sensitivity to nicotine–induced nausea23. In addition, a history of motion-induced nausea is a well-recognized risk factor, not only for NVP and HG, but also for post operative nausea and chemotherapy induced nausea24.…”

Alteraciones inducidas por la nicotina en el desarrollo del sistema visual del pez cebra

“…With a speed diminution in eye tracking associated to a visual stimulus. Furthermore, saccades decrease in nicotine treated animals, which is consistent with data from humans (Clarke et al 1985;Domino et al, 1997;Larrison et al, 2004;Rycroft et al;2006Zingler et al, 2007. These studies have shown that nicotine reduces the number of primary saccades during search tasks in smokers, non-smokers and in patients with schizophrenia (Avila et al, 2003;Olincy et al, 2003, Tanabe et al 2006.…”

“…En los ejemplares tratados se produce una diminución de la velocidad del ojo en el seguimiento del estímulo visual asociada a la dosis de nicotina. Además disminuyen los movimientos sacádicos de los animales tratados con nicotina, lo que concuerda con lo descrito en humanos (Clarke et al, 1985;Domino et al, 1997;Larrison et al, 2004;Rycroft et al, 2006;Zingler et al, 2007). Dichos estudios han demostrado que la nicotina reduce el número de movimientos sacádicos principales durante tareas de búsqueda en fumadores, y en pacientes no fumadores con esquizofrenia (Avila et al, 2003;Olincy et al, 2003;Tanabe et al, 2006).…”