An exploratory study of effects of smoking on mental rotation and mental paper-folding task

To demonstrate the positive effects of smoking on spatial-imagery processin g, behavioral (hit ratio and reaction time) and physiological indices (EEGs and HR) were examined in 12 student volunteers. Subjects performed two spa tial-imagery tasks, one mental rotation and the other mental paper-folding. The two tasks were performed before and after smoking and the results comp ared. Subjects participated in both control and smoking sessions. Reaction time decreased after smoking, while the hit ratio did not change. EEG conto ur maps derived from 12-channel records of the beta band showed activation of the frontal area during the spatial-imagery processing. After smoking, E EG laterality showed increased right-hemisphere dominance. These findings i mplied that smoking facilitated selective activation of the hemisphere and did not support Gilbert and Wesler's hypothesis of left-hemisphere priming. Psychophysiological mechanisms of the effects of smoking were discussed.