Abstract
Two experiments were carried out to investigate whether cigarette smoking could produce state-dependent learning (SDL) in humans. The first experiment was concerned with the methodological issue of choosing an appropriate control cigarette for use in an SDL design. A low nicotine content (0.2 mg) cigarette was chosen as it did not appear to affect the physiological arousal of the subjects. In Experiment 2, it was shown that cigarette smoking can produce state-dependent memory effects. The most likely basis for the results is the arousal produced by the nicotine content of the cigarette.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson K, Hockey GR (1977) Effects of cigarette smoking on incidental memory. Psychopharmacology 52:223–226
Bustamente JA, Jordan A, Vila M, Gonzalez A, Insua A (1970) State dependent learning in humans. Physiol Behav 5:793–796
Darley CF, Tinklenberg JR, Roth WT, Atkinson RC (1974) The nature of storage deficits and state-dependent retrieval under marijuana. Psychopharmacologia 37:139–149
Frankenhaeuser M, Myrsten A-L, Post B, Johansson G (1971) Behavioural and physiological effects of cigarette smoking in a monotonous situation. Psychopharmacologia 22:1–7
Goodwin DW, Powell B, Bremer D, Hoine H, Stern J (1969) Alcohol and recall: State dependent effects in man. Science 163:1358–1360
McNicol D (1962) A primer of signal detection theory. George Allen & Unwin, Sydney
Overton DA (1978) Major theories of state dependent learning. In: Ho BT, Richards DW, Chute DL (eds) Drug discrimination and state dependent learning. Academic Press, New York
Paivio A, Yuille JC, Madigan S (1968) Concreteness, imagery and meaningfulness values for 925 nouns. J Exp Psychol 76:1–25
Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL, Lushene RE (1968) State-trait anxiety inventory. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto
Stephens RM (1977) Psychophysiological variables in cigarette smoking and reinforcing effects of nicotine. Addict Behav 2:1–7
Swanson JM, Kinsbourne M (1976) Stimulant related state-dependent learning in hyperactive children. Science 192:1354–1357
Warburton DM, Wesnes K (1978) Individual differences in smoking and attentional performance. In: Thornton RE (ed) Smoking behaviour: Physiological and psychological influences. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
Williams GD (1980) Effects of cigarette smoking on immediate memory and performance in different kinds of smoker. Br J Psychol 71: 83–90
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peters, R., McGee, R. Cigarette smoking and state-dependent memory. Psychopharmacology 76, 232–235 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432551
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432551