Science Daily: Electronic Cigarettes May Help Smokers' Memory While They Kick the Habit

[Sissylala]

Excerpt:

"ScienceDaily (Apr. 17, 2012) — Electronic cigarettes -- battery-operated devices that provide nicotine via inhaled vapour -- may help the memory as well as ease cravings as smokers quit their habit. These are the findings of research presented April 18 at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference, held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London (18-20 April 2012)."

Full article:

Electronic cigarettes may help smokers' memory while they kick the habit

 

[DC2]

Does anyone but me think the ANTZ are starting to get real scared lately?
Because a tidal wave is coming at them, and it threatens to wash them all away.

If any of them are reading this, I will suggest they get on board quick.
Because if they don't, they may just find themselves drowning in their own lies.

 

[dlsw]

Thanks for this! Whenever I have tried to quit before, I have been plagued with a lack of mental acuity. I really think I am much better this time. Now where did I put my car keys???

 

[Myk]

It is stuff like this and people's experience that makes me think the antis and the FDA will have to back off or non-vapers are going to start asking the same questions we already suspect are true.

 

[Sissylala]

I'd really like to get a copy of the research paper they presented.

 

[Vocalek]

I have written to the author for more information. I'll let you know what she says.

 

[VapApe]

Thanks for this! Whenever I have tried to quit before, I have been plagued with a lack of mental acuity. I really think I am much better this time. Now where did I put my car keys???

Your key? Were did I see them? Oh their over there!

 

[Vocalek]

Dr. Dawkins responded to my email and sent me a draft copy of the article in press that will appear in the journal Addictive Behaviors. This is a link to the abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460312000913

The 86 smokers (none of whom had used an e-cigarette previously) were divided into three groups. One group simply held an e-cigarette without operating it throughout the experiment. The other two groups used e-cigarettes either with 18 mg/g nicotine or 0 mg/g nicotine (placebo).

All participants were administered several different tests that measure withdrawal symptoms following abstinence from smoking for at least one hour. Six withdrawal symptoms were assessed: depression, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, hunger, and poor concentration. They were measured at baseline (T1), after 5 minutes (T2), and after 20 minutes (T3). A subset of participants (N=60, 29 females) also were tested on measures of working memory performance using the Letter Cancellation Task and the Brown-Peterson Working Memory Task.

For males, from T1 to T2, differences in withdrawal symptoms were apparent for anxiety in the nicotine vs. just hold groups and placebo vs. just hold. For Females the difference was seen only in placebo vs. just hold. From T1 to T3, there were overall significant group differences in males in anxiety, poor concentration, irritability, and restlessness. In all cases, in the nicotine group the decline in withdrawal symptoms was significantly lower than both the placebo or just hold groups. For females the pattern of change was seen in depression and poor concentration, with significant increases between T1 and T3 in the nicotine vs. just hold and the placebo vs. just hold.

Some aspects of nicotine withdrawal and desire to smoke were significantly reduced 20 minutes (but not 5 minutes) after e-cigarette use. In males, nicotine was superior to placebo, but not in females. Nicotine also improved working memory performance.

The nicotine groups were fastest to complete the Letter Cancellation Task, with just hold coming in second, and placebo third. The worst performance, measured by number of errors made, was seen in the just hold versus the placebo group. The nicotine group performed better across all 6 trials of the Memory Test and retained better memory performance at the longer time intervals.

 

[Browneyedgirl]

Great news! Anything to help my... Wait... What were we talking about?

 

[DC2]

From T1 to T3, there were overall significant group differences in males in anxiety, poor concentration, irritability, and restlessness. In all cases, in the nicotine group the decline in withdrawal symptoms was significantly lower than both the placebo or just hold groups. For females the pattern of change was seen in depression and poor concentration, with significant increases between T1 and T3 in the nicotine vs. just hold and the placebo vs. just hold.

That is quite interesting.

 

[TennDave]

Awesome, we need more studies like this.
As I work as a school psychologist, I'm very familiar with these memory tests including the cancellation subtest.