Working memory in cigarette smokers: Comparison to non-smokers and effects of abstinence

Adrianna Mendrek; John Monterosso; Sara L. Simon; Murray Jarvik; Arthur Brody; Richard Olmstead; Catherine P. Domier; Mark S. Cohen; Monique Ernst; Edythe D. London

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.06.009

Working memory in cigarette smokers: Comparison to non-smokers and effects of abstinence

Adrianna Mendrek, John Monterosso, Sara L. Simon, Murray Jarvik, Arthur Brody, Richard Olmstead, Catherine P. Domier, Mark S. Cohen, Monique Ernst, Edythe D. London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

118 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine the effect of cigarette smoking and withdrawal on working memory. Participants included 15 smokers and 22 matched non-smokers. For both groups the N-Back Task (of working memory) was administered in two test blocks on each of two days. On one day, smokers were tested after ≥ 13 h abstinence; on the other day, testing began ≤ 1 h after smoking. Smokers inhaled one cigarette between the blocks on each test day. Results indicated that performance of smokers after ≥ 13 h but not ≤ 1 h abstinence was significantly less accurate than that of non-smokers. A within-subject comparison revealed that in the abstinence session, smokers had significantly longer response latencies (in the 2-back condition) and made more overall errors compared to the satiety session. Smoking between test blocks in the abstinence session did not significantly affect performance although it significantly reduced craving. These findings provide further evidence for a deficit in working memory associated with acute abstinence from smoking, which may contribute to the difficulty of smoking cessation.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	833-844
Number of pages	12
Journal	Addictive Behaviors
Volume	31
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.06.009
State	Published - May 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Attention
Cigarette smoking
Craving
Nicotine
Withdrawal
Working memory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Clinical Psychology
Toxicology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.06.009

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title = "Working memory in cigarette smokers: Comparison to non-smokers and effects of abstinence",

abstract = "The present study was designed to examine the effect of cigarette smoking and withdrawal on working memory. Participants included 15 smokers and 22 matched non-smokers. For both groups the N-Back Task (of working memory) was administered in two test blocks on each of two days. On one day, smokers were tested after ≥ 13 h abstinence; on the other day, testing began ≤ 1 h after smoking. Smokers inhaled one cigarette between the blocks on each test day. Results indicated that performance of smokers after ≥ 13 h but not ≤ 1 h abstinence was significantly less accurate than that of non-smokers. A within-subject comparison revealed that in the abstinence session, smokers had significantly longer response latencies (in the 2-back condition) and made more overall errors compared to the satiety session. Smoking between test blocks in the abstinence session did not significantly affect performance although it significantly reduced craving. These findings provide further evidence for a deficit in working memory associated with acute abstinence from smoking, which may contribute to the difficulty of smoking cessation.",

keywords = "Attention, Cigarette smoking, Craving, Nicotine, Withdrawal, Working memory",

author = "Adrianna Mendrek and John Monterosso and Simon, {Sara L.} and Murray Jarvik and Arthur Brody and Richard Olmstead and Domier, {Catherine P.} and Cohen, {Mark S.} and Monique Ernst and London, {Edythe D.}",

note = "Funding Information: NIH grants RO1 DA014093.03 (EDL), RO1 DA015059 (ALB), R21 DA 13627 (MSC), and MOIRR 00865; UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program 10RT-0091 (EDL) and 11RT-0024 (ALB), Philip Morris USA 01082705 (EDL).",

year = "2006",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.06.009",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "833--844",

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T2 - Comparison to non-smokers and effects of abstinence

AU - Mendrek, Adrianna

AU - Monterosso, John

AU - Simon, Sara L.

AU - Jarvik, Murray

AU - Brody, Arthur

AU - Olmstead, Richard

AU - Domier, Catherine P.

AU - Cohen, Mark S.

AU - Ernst, Monique

AU - London, Edythe D.

N1 - Funding Information: NIH grants RO1 DA014093.03 (EDL), RO1 DA015059 (ALB), R21 DA 13627 (MSC), and MOIRR 00865; UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program 10RT-0091 (EDL) and 11RT-0024 (ALB), Philip Morris USA 01082705 (EDL).

PY - 2006/5

Y1 - 2006/5

N2 - The present study was designed to examine the effect of cigarette smoking and withdrawal on working memory. Participants included 15 smokers and 22 matched non-smokers. For both groups the N-Back Task (of working memory) was administered in two test blocks on each of two days. On one day, smokers were tested after ≥ 13 h abstinence; on the other day, testing began ≤ 1 h after smoking. Smokers inhaled one cigarette between the blocks on each test day. Results indicated that performance of smokers after ≥ 13 h but not ≤ 1 h abstinence was significantly less accurate than that of non-smokers. A within-subject comparison revealed that in the abstinence session, smokers had significantly longer response latencies (in the 2-back condition) and made more overall errors compared to the satiety session. Smoking between test blocks in the abstinence session did not significantly affect performance although it significantly reduced craving. These findings provide further evidence for a deficit in working memory associated with acute abstinence from smoking, which may contribute to the difficulty of smoking cessation.

AB - The present study was designed to examine the effect of cigarette smoking and withdrawal on working memory. Participants included 15 smokers and 22 matched non-smokers. For both groups the N-Back Task (of working memory) was administered in two test blocks on each of two days. On one day, smokers were tested after ≥ 13 h abstinence; on the other day, testing began ≤ 1 h after smoking. Smokers inhaled one cigarette between the blocks on each test day. Results indicated that performance of smokers after ≥ 13 h but not ≤ 1 h abstinence was significantly less accurate than that of non-smokers. A within-subject comparison revealed that in the abstinence session, smokers had significantly longer response latencies (in the 2-back condition) and made more overall errors compared to the satiety session. Smoking between test blocks in the abstinence session did not significantly affect performance although it significantly reduced craving. These findings provide further evidence for a deficit in working memory associated with acute abstinence from smoking, which may contribute to the difficulty of smoking cessation.

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Working memory in cigarette smokers: Comparison to non-smokers and effects of abstinence

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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