Abstract
Rationale
Considerable research suggests that nicotine enhances cognitive control-related processes (e.g., attention, memory) among nicotine-deprived smokers, both in terms of behavior and neural indices (e.g., ERP, slow-wave EEG). Nicotine may also increase cognitive control among nonsmokers, and this may vary as a function of trait cognitive control. It is important to examine the effects of nicotine on cognitive control-related processes among nonsmokers as these effects may provide a path for the initiation of smoking.
Objectives
The objectives of the study were to examine in nonsmokers (1) the effect of nicotine on resting cortical activity, an indirect measure of cognitive control, and (2) trait cognitive control as a moderator of nicotine-induced cortical activity changes.
Method
Eighty participants were given placebo and 7-mg nicotine patches in separate sessions for this counter-balanced, double-blind, within-subject study. Resting cortical activity was measured with EEG for a 3-min period with eyes opened.
Results
Average alpha-1 band power density values in frontal and central regions were lower during the nicotine versus placebo condition, which provides evidence of nicotine-induced cortical activation. Furthermore, those with lower self-reported cognitive control exhibited greater nicotine-induced reductions in alpha-1 power density values.
Conclusions
These individual differences in nicotine-induced cortical activation are consistent with a model of nicotine self-medication whereby individuals with lower cognitive control may find smoking more reinforcing via amelioration of related cognitive deficits.
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Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the Florida Department of Health grant no. 09KN-02 (PI: David Evans) and by the Biostatistics Core Facility at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (P30-CA076292). The authors would like to thank Renee Ornduff and Natasha Garcia for their work on the project.
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David Drobes has served as an expert witness in litigation against tobacco companies. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Sutton, S.K., Van Rensburg, K.J., Jentink, K.G. et al. Nicotine-induced cortical activation among nonsmokers with moderation by trait cognitive control. Psychopharmacology 233, 2301–2308 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4276-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4276-z