title: Effects of nicotine on electroencephalography and affect in adolescent females with major depressive disorder: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given that smoking is typically initiated during adolescence, and that this period in brain development seems to be uniquely sensitive to nicotine, depressed youth may be most susceptible to the neuromodulatory and mood-altering effects of nicotine. Electroencephalographic (EEG) studies suggest that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit left frontal lobe hypoactivation (indexed by increased EEG alpha), a region implicated in positive affect regulation, as well as right parietal hypoactivation. Smoking/nicotine abstinence has been associated with increased left frontal and right parietal alpha activity (reduced activation), which has been correlated with increased depression ratings; nicotine administration seems to normalize this depression-associated asymmetry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study investigated whether acute nicotine administration in adolescent female smokers with MDD would alter resting EEG activity and affect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective mood ratings and EEG recordings were acquired before and 2 hours after administering a transdermal placebo or nicotine (21 mg) patch to 8 adolescent female smokers with MDD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nicotine induced a modest increase in alpha1 amplitude in the right hemisphere and simultaneously decreased left-favoring alpha1 amplitude asymmetry. It also attenuated left alpha1 and alpha2 amplitude in the central region. Consistent with nicotine's stimulatory action, nicotine decreased theta amplitude in the right parietal region. No accompanying mood alterations were found, although smoking withdrawal and craving as well as physical symptom scores were reduced with nicotine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this pilot study, the first to examine the electrocortical effects of nicotine in depressed adolescents, indicate that nicotine modulates EEG asymmetry measures, laying the stage for further research regarding the role of nicotine on affective neurocircuitry in this population.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada. natalia.jaworska@rohcg.on.ca
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaworska
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milin
authors.forename: Verner
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants; D009538:Nicotine