Selective effects of nicotine on attentional processes.
BACKGROUND
It is now well established from electrophysiological and behavioural evidence that nicotine has effects on information processing. The results are usually explained either by a primary effect of nicotine or by a reversal effect of a nicotine-induced, abstinence deficit. In addition, there is dispute about the cognitive processes underlying the changes in performance.


METHODS
This study has approached the first question by using the nicotine patch, in order to administer nicotine chronically. In addition, we examined the effects of nicotine on attention with a selection of tests which assessed the intensity and selectivity features of attention, using the Random Letter Generation test, the Flexibility of Attention test and the Stroop test.


RESULTS
Nicotine enhanced the speed of number generation and the speed of processing in both the control and interference conditions of the Stroop test. There were no effects on attentional switching of the Flexibility of Attention test.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are consistent with the hypothesis that nicotine mainly improves the intensity feature of attention, rather than the selectivity feature.
Mancuso
G
G
Laboratoire de Psychopharmacologie, Université de Liège, Boulevard du Rectorat B32, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
Warburton
D M
DM
Mélen
M
M
Sherwood
N
N
Tirelli
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine