Nicotine derived from the electronic cigarette improves prospective memory in abstinent smokers
| Author(s)
John Turner and Lynne Dawkins
| | Presenter(s) |
John Turner Principal Lecturer, University of East London, Stratford, London |
Lynne Dawkins Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of East London, Stratford | Abstract It is well-established that nicotine improves, and deprivation impairs, cognitive performance and mood in smokers. Prospective memory (PM), remembering to execute a delayed intention at a given point in time, is under-explored in smokers. Whilst a handful of studies have shown improved PM with nicotine, the effect of nicotine delivered via electronic cigarette has not been investigated.
This study explores whether nicotine delivered via the e-cigarette can improve PM, tobacco withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke in abstinent smokers. Twenty smokers, abstinent for 8 -10 hours, each completed two experimental sessions under nicotine (18mg) and placebo (0mg) e-cigarette conditions. Participants completed a single-item desire to smoke scale and the Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale (MPSS). Objective PM was measured using the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT). Compared with placebo, the nicotine e-cigarette reduced desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms, and improved time-based but not event-based PM.
There was a moderate, marginally significant correlation between PM performance during abstinence and nicotine dependence.
This is the first study to show that nicotine derived via the e-cigarette can improve PM in abstinent smokers adding to the growing body of evidence that the electronic cigarette is an effective nicotine delivery device.
| Presenter biography John Turner completed his PhD in 2002 at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. He is currently a Principal Lecturer at the University of East London, and was a founder member of the Recreational Drugs Research team there (now re-named the Drugs and Addictive Behaviours Research Team). John specialises in research looking at recreational drug effects (notably MDMA, cannabis and more recently nicotine) on behaviour in adults, and has also been involved in the DAISY study, exploring the effects of MDMA and other substances on infants exposed in utero.
Lynne Dawkins completed her PhD in 2001 and postdoctoral studies in 2006, both at Goldsmiths College, London, UK. She then took up a senior lecturer at the University of East London where she currently co-ordinates the Drugs and Addictive Behaviours Research Team. She specializes in nicotine addiction and smoking cessation; current research is focusing on i) effects of the electronic cigarette and ii) response inhibition deficits in smokers along with implications for abstinence.
| Source of funding: None
| Declaration of interest: Lynne Dawkins has a collaborative relationship with Totally Wicked E-Liquids (TWEL), who provided the electronic cigarettes for this study. TWEL had no involvement in the design, conduct or write up of this study.
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