Pharmacopsychiatry 2005; 38 - A173
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-918795

Effects of smoking history on cortical activation patterns during target detection

A Neuhaus 1, M Staedtgen 2, M Bajbouj 1, P Kalus 2, D von Haebler 2, J Gallinat 2
  • 1Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Psychiatrie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin
  • 2Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Psychiatrische Klinik, Berlin

Aims: Little is known about the neuropharmacology and sites of action of nicotine in the human brain. Extending our knowledge in this field might help in the development of new behavioural and pharmacological therapies to aid in treating nicotine dependence and to improve smoking cessation success rates. In this study, we addressed the question if a positive nicotine history may be related to altered cognitive functions.

Methods: We investigated the cortical activation during a choice reaction paradigm (P300, auditory oddball) was investigated in a sample of 247 healthy subjects consisting of smokers, ex-smokers and never-smokers. Group differences of the cortical activation were investigated using Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA).

Results: Both current smokers and ex-smokers exhibited significantly diminished parietal (Pz) P300 amplitudes as compared to never-smokers (p<.05). Source localization revealed hypoactivation of posterior cingulate cortex in subjects with a positive smoking history (p<.01). Additional deficits in current density were identified in medial orbitofrontal cortex for current smokers (p<.05) and in left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for ex-smokers (p<.05).

Conclusion: Positive smoking history seems to be related to altered information processing during target detection and is further discussed with respect to differential effects in current smokers and ex-smokers.