Physiology & behavior
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Physiology & behavior · Jan 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of transdermal nicotine on prose memory and attention in smokers and nonsmokers.
Previous research investigating cognitive effects of nicotine has produced mixed findings partly due to the use of abstaining smokers and cigarettes as a delivery system. The present study examined effects of nicotine delivered via a transdermal patch on prose memory and sustained attention in male smokers (n=25) and nonsmokers (n=22), who were randomly assigned to either a placebo or a nicotine condition. All groups were matched on their verbal ability and gross personality characteristics (state/trait anxiety levels, extroversion-introversion, and impulsivity level). ⋯ No between-group differences were found on the RVIP task. A significant effect of time was found for systolic blood pressure and heart rate. The results cannot be interpreted using the arousal theory of nicotine effects on attention and are explained on the basis of a dose-dependent nicotinic action possibly recruiting cholinergic cortical projections.