title: The effect of tobacco abstinence on recognition memory, digit span recall, and attentional vigilance.
abstract: This article examines the effects of tobacco abstinence on recognition memory, digit span recall, and visual attentional vigilance. The results demonstrated that abstinence impaired recognition memory discrimination (ad libitum d' =.85, abstinent d' =.64), recognition memory hit rates (ad libitum =.60, abstinent =.54), accuracy of target detection in attentional vigilance (ad libitum =.99, abstinent =.97), and speed of target detection in attentional vigilance (ad libitum = 662 ms, abstinent = 687 ms). Abstinence did not impair digit span recall (ad libitum =.55, abstinent =.56). These results are consistent with the hypotheses that tobacco abstinence impairs episodic memory and sustained attention. They also suggest that some, but not necessarily all, short-term memory processes may not be influenced by tobacco abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. ellioth@gwu.edu
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirshman
authors.forename: Diane K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinser
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merritt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide