The effects of smoling on some aspects of cognitive performance

Abstract

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je istražiti hoće li konzumacija jedne cigarete poboljšati kognitivnu izvedbu u tri kognitivne domene–pažnji, radnom pamćenju i obradi vidno–prostornih podataka, tj. mentalnim rotacijama. Istraživanje je provedeno na 22 povremena pušača starosti od 19–29 godina koji su izjavili da puše manje od jedne cigarete dnevno. Za mjerenje izvedbe na zadatku pažnje, radnog pamćenja i mentalnih rotacija korišten je računalni program E–prime 2.0 koji je mjerio sudionikovo vrijeme reakcije i točnost na danom zadatku. Sudionik je iste zadatke rješavao četiri puta–prije i poslije tretmana u kontrolnom uvjetu i prije i poslije tretmana u eksperimentalnom uvjetu. U kontrolnom uvjetu tretman se sastojao od čaše vode koju su sudionici morali popiti, a u eksperimentalnom uvjetu tretman je bila cigareta koja je sadržavala 0.5 mg nikotina i 6 mg katrana i koju su sudionici morali popušiti. Pauza između kontrolnog i eksperimentalnog uvjeta bila je dva dana. Redoslijed uvjeta bio je rotiran. Nije utvrđen značajan utjecaj pušenja na vrijeme reakcije i točnost na zadacima pažnje, radnog pamćenja i mentalnih rotacija.The aim of this study was to examine if the smoking of one cigarette will improve cognitive performance in three cognitive domains–attention, working memory and visuospatial processing (which was measured using a mental rotation task). The study was conducted with 22 recreational smokers aged 19–29 who reported smoking less than 1 cigarette a day. Performance in attention, working memory and mental rotation tasks was assessed using a computer program E-prime 2.0. Reaction time rates and accuracy on given tasks were measured. Participants performed each task four times–before and after treatment in control condition and before and after treatment in experimental condition. In control condition the treatment consisted of a glass of water which participants had to drink, while in the experimental condition treatment was to smoke one cigarette containing 0.5 mg of nicotine and 6 mg of tar. Interval between control and experimental condition was two days. The order of conditions was counterbalanced. There were no significant effects of cigarette smoking on reaction time rates or accuracy on attention, working memory and mental rotation tasks