Selective effects of nicotine on attentional processes

Rationale: It is now well established from electrophysiological and behavio ural evidence that nicotine has effects on information processing. The resu lts are usually explained either by a primary effect of nicotine or by a re versal effect of a nicotine-induced, abstinence deficit. In addition, there is dispute about the cognitive processes underlying the changes in perform ance. Methods: This study has approached the first question by using the ni cotine patch, in order to administer nicotine chronically. In addition, we examined the effects of nicotine on attention with a selection of tests whi ch assessed the intensity and selectivity features of attention, using the Random Letter Generation test, the Flexibility of Attention test and the St roop test. Results: Nicotine enhanced the speed of number generation and th e speed of processing in both the control and interference conditions of th e Stroop test. There were no effects on attentional switching of the Flexib ility of Attention lest. Conclusion: The results are consistent with the hy pothesis that nicotine mainly improves the intensity feature of attention, rather than the selectivity feature.