| <
Poster presentation
Psychomotor and cognitive effects of nicotine versus
associated measures of dependence in smokers
Charles Beck
Abstract
Nicotine is well documented to bind to nicotinic acetylcholine
receptors at the autonomic ganglia, adrenal medulla, neuromuscular
junctions and in the brain. It exerts central effects
in two ways; nicotine produces a stimulating effect in
the cortex via the locus cerulus and induces a reward
mechanism by acting upon receptors in the limbic system.
The positive reinforcing effect of nicotine is largely
characterised by dopaminergic pathways. Nicotine has a
specific role in enhancing cognition and psychomotor performance,
and may act upon specific regions of the brain.
We have investigated the relationship between the withdrawal
effects of nicotine dependence upon psychomotor and cognitive
ability using a battery of six commonly employed tests.
Correlation analyses were performed to investigate if
there is relationship between change in psychomotor test
scores and existing measures of smoking status.
30 subjects who currently smoked were recruited in the
study (11 male) and were aged 31.9 ± 11.1 years
(mean ± SD), smoked 14.7 ± 7.2 cigarettes
per day and scored 6.2 ± 2.1 on the Fagerstrom
test for nicotine dependence (FTND). We found a significant
correlation between FTND score and the recognition reaction
time component of a choice reaction time test (p = 0.022).
Results were compared using a stepwise multiple regression
analysis with partial least squares cross-validation between
a no withdrawal study visit and another visit where each
subject was 12-hour tobacco withdrawn.
We intend to use psychomotor tests to quantify the level
of dependency each smoker has to nicotine. This information
may predict the quit rate and help identify individuals
who require additional support from an NHS stop smoking
service to remain abstinent.
Charles Beck
Academic Unit of Clinical Pharmacology,
University of Sheffield L123, L Floor
Royal Hallamshire Hospital,
Glossop Road Sheffield S10 2JF
Tel: 0114 2713664
c.beck@sheffield.ac.uk
| 
