Dg. Gilbert et al., DOES NOISE STRESS MODULATE EFFECTS OF SMOKING NICOTINE - MOOD, VIGILANCE, AND EEG RESPONSES/, Psychopharmacology, 129(4), 1997, pp. 382-389
Effects of smoking multiple cigarettes on EEG, vigilance, and subjecti
ve state were assessed in a repeated measures design where noise level
(high versus minimal) was crossed with nicotine dose (quasi-ad lib ow
n versus 1.0 mg FTC nicotine machine-delivered dose versus 0.05 mg FTC
nicotine machine-delivered dose). Vigilance was increased by nicotine
, but not by noise and there was no noise by dose interaction. Effects
of nicotine on EEG varied as a function of dose, noise, hemisphere, t
ime, and eyes-open versus eyes-closed condition. Smoking normal nicoti
ne delivery (0.9-1.1 mg FTC-estimated) cigarettes resulted in decrease
s in percentages of delta and theta EEG magnitude and increased percen
tage beta-1 EEG magnitude across conditions and time. Changes in alpha
and theta magnitude were dependent on eyes being open versus closed.
Hemispheric asymmetries varied as a function of noise and time. Consis
tent with inverted ''U'' models, effects of nicotine on EEG were clear
ly stimulant during the quiet conditions while there were minimal to n
o differences between nicotine doses during the high-noise conditions.
The failure of nicotine to modify mood is interpreted in terms of bio
informational models of nicotine's subjective effects.