IMMEDIATE AND SUSTAINED EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON AUTONOMIC AROUSAL IN HUMAN-SUBJECTS

The effects of smoking on sudomotor/autonomic activity were examined b y measuring water transfer across the skin (sweat output) as an index of activity. Sweat output was measured in 14 subjects (11 male and 3 f emale) during the act of smoking and for about 60 min following this. Sweat output was measured in 5 (4 male, 1 female) controls over the sa me time period. Smoking had two effects on sweat output: In 12 subject s it caused an immediate increase in output; in 4 of these 12 the incr ease persisted for the duration of the recording period. In the other 2 subjects no increase was noted, but in no subject did smoking cause a decrease in sweat output. Mood state questionnaires were administere d at the beginning and end of the experimental period. No clear associ ation was found between scores on the mood questionnaires and the auto nomic effects of smoking. In 2 subjects, transdermal blood flow was al so measured during and after smoking. Smoking caused a decrease in blo od flow in these subjects. These results are discussed in terms of the ''arousal modulation'' hypothesis of smoking.