Effects of cigarette smoking and abstinence on stroop task performance

Abstract

Rationale-Smokers report enhanced concentration after cigarette smoking and difficulty concentrating when abstinent from smoking. These perceived effects may contribute to smoking cessation failures, and if so, clarification of their cognitive bases could inform treatment strategies. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptSelective attention may be important in this regard, but earlier literature presents inconsistent findings on how smoking abstinence and resumption of smoking influence this cognitive function.Objectives-We aimed to compare smokers and nonsmokers on selective attention, and in smokers, to test the effects of overnight abstinence from smoking and of acute smoking on selective attention. Results-Smokers demonstrated longer response latencies for both congruent and incongruent stimuli after overnight than brief abstinence, but no deficit specifically related to selective attention. Whereas nonsmokers showed no changes in performance in the second test block, smoking between blocks reduced the Stroop effect when smokers were abstinent overnight. Materials and methods-SmokersConclusions-These data are consistent with the hypothesis that abstinence from smoking among nicotine-dependent individuals has deleterious effects on cognitive performance, but do not indicate that selective attention is adversely effected. Improvement in selective attention after terminating abstinence with one cigarette may also contribute to smokers' perceived enhanced ability to concentrate after smoking.

Nicotine deprivation, temporal discounting and choice consistency in heavy smokers

“…This is in line with previous reports of impaired cognitive performance following nicotine deprivation (Azizian et al, 2010;Domier et al, 2007). However, these effects of abstinence did not translate into more impulsive choice behavior in the present sample.…”

Differences in “bottom-up” and “top-down” neural activity in current and former cigarette smokers: Evidence for neural substrates which may promote nicotine abstinence through increased cognitive control

“…that current smokers would demonstrate an attentional bias through slower reactions times in the presence of drug-related cues. While smokers have been shown to demonstrate state-dependent (abstinence vs. satiety) alterations in arousal (Parrott and Kaye, 1999), motivation (Powell et al, 2002) and sustained attention (Rusted et al, 2000), which might bestow an acute beneficial effect of nicotine on task performance, it may be that this lack of behavioural effect represents the small sample size used in Experiment 1, compared to previous studies (Domier et al, 2007;Munafo et al, 2003;Rzetelny et al, 2008). Experiment 2 investigated neural activity during motor response inhibition and error monitoring in the same sample using a go/no-go task.…”

Methamphetamine Dependence and Neuropsychological Functioning: Evaluating Change During Early Abstinence

“…The MA group also had a higher proportion of cigarette smokers than the HC group, and smoking status has been related to cognitive performance (see reviews by Heishman et al, 1994;Mansvelder et al, 2006). Cognitive dysfunction in smokers has been related to nicotine withdrawal (e.g., Domier et al, 2007;Hendricks et al, 2006;Mendrek et al, 2006), with some effects seen very soon after the cessation of smoking (30-180 minutes). To minimize the effects of nicotine withdrawal, subjects were allowed to take breaks from the test battery and smoke as desired.…”