Effect Of Nicotine on Neurocognitive Performance of Cigarette Smokers
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2007-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
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