Nicotine derived from the electronic cigarette improves time-based prospective memory in abstinent smokers

Abstract

Rationale: It is well-established that nicotine improves, and deprivation impairs, cognitive performance and mood in smokers. Prospective memory (PM), remembering to execute a delayed intention at a given time point, is under-explored in smokers. Whilst a handful of studies have shown improved PM with nicotine, effects of nicotine delivered via the electronic cigarette have not been investigated.Objective: This study explores whether, by comparison with placebo, nicotine delivered via the e-cigarette can improve PM, tobacco withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke in abstinent smokers.Methods: Twenty smokers, abstinent for 8-10 hours, each completed two experimental sessions under nicotine (18mg) and placebo (0mg) e-cigarette conditions. Participants completed a single-item desire to smoke scale and the Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale (MPSS). PM was measured using the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT).Results: Compared with placebo, the nicotine e-cigarette reduced desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms, and improved time-based but not event-based PM. There was a moderate, marginally significant negative correlation between PM performance during abstinence and nicotine dependence.Conclusions: This is the first study to show that nicotine derived via e-cigarette can improve PM in abstinent smokers suggesting efficient nicotine delivery. That the effect of nicotine was restricted to time-based rather than event-based PM is consistent with the view that nicotine acts to improve performance on strategic (effortful) rather than automatic processing. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that the e-cigarette can replace some of the effects of nicotine derived from tobacco smoking thus highlighting its potential for smoking cessation.

Electronic nicotine delivery system (electronic cigarette) awareness, use, reactions and beliefs: a systematic review

“…Interestingly, this reduction in desire to smoke or lessening of cravings occurred even in some cases where objectively measured nicotine uptake was low or modest 53 56. Evidence for the alleviation of specific withdrawal symptoms in these lab studies was inconsistent 53 56 57 79 87 88…”

“…In six lab studies, participants who had been tobacco abstinent for 2–12 h reported that using nicotine-containing ENDS reduced their desire to smoke or cravings during their inlaboratory use session,53 56 57 79 87 88 although this was not true in one study 54. In some cases, this reduction was shown to be greater for nicotine-containing ENDS than for non-nicotine ENDS53 87 88 or for just holding unlit regular cigarettes or ENDS 56 88. Interestingly, this reduction in desire to smoke or lessening of cravings occurred even in some cases where objectively measured nicotine uptake was low or modest 53 56.…”

Electronic cigarettes: abuse liability, topography and subjective effects

“…Dawkins et al 34 examined the subjective effects of acute administration of an 18 mg or 0 mg cigarette-like disposable e-cigarette after overnight abstinence in two counterbalanced sessions in a clinical laboratory study involving regular e-cigarette users (n=20). At the end of the 60 min ad libitum smoking period, urge to smoke and anxiety were significantly decreased with the 18 mg e-cigarette.…”

Explaining the effects of electronic cigarettes on craving for tobacco in recent quitters

“…From tests conducted in the laboratory, we know that craving for tobacco cigarettes decreases immediately after e-cigarette use (Adriaens et al, 2014;Bullen et al, 2010;Dawkins and Corcoran, 2014;Dawkins et al, 2013aDawkins et al, , 2012Evans and Hoffman, 2014;Nides et al, 2014;Vansickel et al, 2010), that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes have a stronger effect on desire to smoke than nicotinefree e-cigarettes (Dawkins et al, 2012), and that being told that the an e-cigarette contains nicotine (even though it actually contains no nicotine) attenuates craving for tobacco (Copp et al, 2014). One study found that new e-cigarette models (refillable tanks) are more effective at relieving craving for tobacco than older models ("cig-alike"; Farsalinos et al, 2014b), but another study found no difference .…”