DOES NOISE STRESS MODULATE EFFECTS OF SMOKING NICOTINE - MOOD, VIGILANCE, AND EEG RESPONSES/

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.