[Difference of visual attention between smokers and never-smokers].
Nicotine is known to improve cognitive performance such as attention, concentration and working memory in humans and animals. Previous research suggests that nicotine enhances visuospatial attention. But it could be hypothesized that nicotine intake alleviate a withdrawal-induced deficit in smokers. To evaluate the cognitive performance in smokers and never-smokers, we investigate eye movement while 4-points saccade task is performed. 5 smokers and 6 never-smokers are matched for age and education. Eye movement was investigated by using TKK2920 (Takei Co.) which determines the direction of gaze over a two-dimensional visual field without attachments to the eye. We found that a tendency which Mean Gazing Time is prolonged in smokers. These data suggest that impairment of visual attention in smokers is not significant.
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013028:Space Perception; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D014796:Visual Perception