title: The long-term effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on verbal working memory: an fMRI study of young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the long-term effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on verbal working memory were investigated in young adults. Participants were members of the Ottawa Prenatal Prospective Study, a longitudinal study that collected a unique body of information on participants from infancy to young adulthood. This allowed for the measurement of an unprecedented number of potentially confounding drug exposure variables including: prenatal marijuana and alcohol exposure and current marijuana, nicotine and alcohol use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve young adults with prenatal nicotine exposure and 13 non-exposed controls performed a 2-Back working memory task while fMRI blood oxygen level-dependent responses were examined. Despite similar task performance, participants with more prenatal nicotine exposure demonstrated significantly greater activity in several regions of the brain that typically subserve verbal working memory including the middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, the inferior parietal lobe and the cingulate gyrus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These results suggest that prenatal nicotine exposure contributes to altered neural functioning during verbal working memory that continues into adulthood. Working memory is critical for a wide range of cognitive skills such as language comprehension, learning and reasoning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, these findings highlight the need for continued educational programs and public awareness campaigns to reduce tobacco use among pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, School of Psychology, Canada. Electronic address: clong090@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Carmelinda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: A Longo
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, School of Psychology, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: A Fried
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, School of Psychology, Canada.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, School of Psychology, Canada.
authors.forename: Andra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: M Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Prenatal nicotine exposure; Verbal working memory; Young adults; fMRI