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A double-blind placebo-controlled experimental study of nicotine: II—Effects on response inhibition and executive functioning

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Abstract

Rationale

Smokers may show abnormal functioning in prefrontal cortex during acute abstinence, reflecting deficient activity in mesocorticolimbic circuitry. Cognitive correlates of this putatively include impaired response inhibition and other aspects of executive functioning.

Objectives

To investigate whether inhibitory control and other executive functions in smokers are impaired during acute abstinence relative to post-nicotine.

Methods

145 smokers were tested twice after overnight abstinence—once after nicotine and once after placebo lozenges (order counterbalanced, double-blind)—on an antisaccade task, a continuous performance task (CPT), a delayed response spatial working memory task and a verbal fluency test.

Results

Compared with placebo, nicotine was associated with better inhibitory control on the antisaccade task and fewer impulsive responses to filler stimuli (motor errors) on the CPT; at the first assessment only, nicotine also reduced impulsive responses to ‘catch’ stimuli on the CPT. However, it did not affect CPT response bias (an index of impulsive vs cautious decision-making), spatial working memory, or verbal fluency.

Conclusions

Smoking abstinence appears to be associated with a difficulty in inhibiting prepotent motor responses, and with nicotine to attenuate this difficulty. However, more ‘cognitive’ forms of inhibitory control (e.g. decision-making) and the other aspects of executive function tested here appear to be unaffected.

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Acknowledgment

This research was funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA; grant code 3527427). Thanks are due to Glaxo Smith Kline for providing the nicotine and placebo lozenges.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of East London, Romford Road, Stratford, London, E15 4LZ, UK

    Lynne Dawkins

  2. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, Lewisham Way, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK

    Jane H. Powell & Alan Pickering

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 2-16 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Robert West

  4. Department of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Box PO39, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    John Powell

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  1. Lynne Dawkins
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  2. Jane H. Powell
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  4. John Powell
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  5. Alan Pickering
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Correspondence to Lynne Dawkins.

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Dawkins, L., Powell, J.H., West, R. et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled experimental study of nicotine: II—Effects on response inhibition and executive functioning. Psychopharmacology 190, 457–467 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0634-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0634-6

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