Effect Of Nicotine on Neurocognitive Performance of Cigarette Smokers

Effect Of Nicotine on Neurocognitive Performance of Cigarette Smokers: A Double-Blind, Within-Subjects, Placebo-Controlled Study

This research project addresses the hypothesis that a neurocognitive profile characterized by impairment of response inhibition and sustained attention may be a risk factor for smoking initiation and nicotine dependence among young women. Nicotine has short- term, facilitating effects on attention and response inhibition. Therefore, individuals who are impaired on cognitive functions such as these and initiate cigarette smoking may be more likely to maintain the habit and develop nicotine dependence. The research protocol specifically tests whether administration of nicotine to non-abstinent, regular cigarette smokers improves cognitive function in those domains where the participants had previously been shown to manifest performance deficits

Inclusion Criteria:

• Reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis at the time of the original study and continue to smoke currently
• Manifested poor performance on the MFFT (The neurocognitive test that yielded differences between smokers and non-smokers)
• Competent and willing to give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy, breast-feeding, non-use of contraception such that the possibility of pregnancy cannot be excluded
• Intake of any medication that may potentially interact with nicotine.
• Any current or past medical condition that represents a contra-indication to nicotine administration.