Learning Objectives: Identify the effects of nicotine on cognitive function.
Abstract: This study tested effects of smoking history and withdrawal using two cognitive tasks: N-Back Task (working memory), Stroop Color Word Interference Task (selective attention, response inhibition). The N-Back Task included three conditions: 0-back (respond when an “X” appears), 1-back (respond when the letter matches the preceding one), 2-back (respond when it matches the letter 2-back in the sequence), 3-back (respond when it matches the letter 3-back). The Stroop Task included congruent (written meaning matched the color in which a color word appeared) and incongruent (meaning and color did not match) conditions. Participants were to name the color in which the word appeared. Smokers (n=5) and nonsmokers (n=9) participated twice, corresponding to states of smoking satiety and 24 h abstinence for the smokers. In each session, tests administered before and after smoking (smokers).
Both tasks showed group differences. There were significant main effects of Group and Condition but no interaction for reaction time on the N-Back Task (smokers slower than nonsmokers in all conditions). Smokers tended to respond faster after smoking in the 1-back and 2-back conditions. Performance accuracy showed a significant Group by Condition interaction (smokers exhibited more errors than nonsmokers in the 2-back and 3-back conditions). This deficit showed a tendency to normalize after smoking. Smokers also were slower in both conditions of the Stroop task with no group difference in the interference effect.
The findings suggest that smokers exhibit longer reaction times in cognitive processing, with a specific deficit in working memory but not in other functions.
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