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| Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2002): |
Nicotine effects on alertness and spatial attention in non-smokers.
Full Abstract
Nicotine reportedly improves covert orienting of spatial attention, but enhanced alertness may also play a role. The present study explored nicotine effects on measures of spatial attention and alertness in non-smokers. Nicotine was delivered to 17 non-smokers (data from 12 subjects were analyzed) by a 7-mg transdermal patch (one patch in a low-nicotine condition; two patches in a high-nicotine condition). We examined nicotine's effects on spatial attention using a covert orienting task with central, predictive cue stimuli. Nicotine effects on alertness were examined with EEG and subjective questionnaires. Blood was drawn and serum levels of nicotine are reported. Nicotine decreased overall reaction times in the covert orienting task. There was no change in the validity effect, the reaction time difference between validly and invalidly cued targets. However, nicotine significantly improved both EEG and self-rated measures of alertness. We conclude that nicotine increases alertness in non-smokers, but we found no improvement in spatial attention using a covert orienting task.
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Author information
Author/s: Griesar, William S (WS); Zajdel, Daniel P (DP); Oken, Barry S (BS);
Affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience CR-120, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201, USA. bgriesar(-atsign-)hevanet.com
Grants: F31 DA 05903 (Agency:United States NIDA)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Journal: Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (Nicotine Tob Res), published in England. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2002-May; vol 4 (issue 2) : pp 185-94
Dates: Created 2002/05/24; Completed 2002/08/13; Revised 2007/11/14;
PMID: 12028851, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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