title: Investigating the impact of nicotine on executive functions using a novel virtual reality assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nicotine is known to enhance aspects of cognitive functioning in abstinent smokers, but the effects on specific areas of executive functions and in non-smokers are inconclusive. This may be due in part to the poor sensitivity of tests used to assess executive functions. This study used a new virtual reality assessment of executive functions known as JEF (the Jansari assessment of Executive Functions) to address this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2 × 2 design manipulating group (smokers and never-smokers) and drug [nicotine (4 mg for smokers; 2 mg for never smokers) versus placebo gum].
  
  
  METHODS
  School of Psychology; University of East London.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two participants (aged 18-54 years): 36 minimally deprived (2 hours) smokers and 36 never-smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Components of executive function were measured using the virtual reality paradigm JEF, which assesses eight cognitive constructs simultaneously as well as providing an overall performance measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analyses of variance revealed that nicotine improved overall JEF performance, time-based prospective memory and event-based prospective memory in smokers (P < 0.01), but not in never-smokers. Action-based prospective memory was enhanced in both groups (P < 0.01) and never-smokers out-performed smokers on selective thinking and adaptive thinking (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Executive functioning and prospective memory as aspects of cognitive performance can be enhanced by nicotine gum in smokers who have abstained for as little as 2 hours.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK. a.jansari@uel.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ashok S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jansari
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Froggatt
authors.forename: Trudi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Edginton
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dawkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012907:Smoking; D013850:Thinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine