According to Wesnes & Warburton (1983), smokers will feel the post-cigarette benefit of increased concentration and better cognitive performance due to:
a. CNS stimulant properties of nicotine
b. The behavior reinforced ritual of smoking
c. The enforced cerebral rest of a cigarette break
d. Raising of Serotonin levels
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: a. CNS stimulant properties of nicotine
Nicotine, a major active compound in cigarettes, acts as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. When a person smokes, nicotine is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, it binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which leads to the release of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters enhance alertness, concentration, and cognitive performance.
The study by Wesnes and Warburton in 1983 demonstrated that smokers experience improved cognitive function and increased concentration shortly after smoking a cigarette. This effect is primarily attributed to the pharmacological action of nicotine rather than behavioral or psychological factors. Nicotine’s stimulation of the CNS enhances attention and memory processes, which results in the post-cigarette benefit that smokers report.
Alternative options such as the behavioral ritual of smoking or the break associated with smoking (options b and c) do not directly explain the biochemical cognitive improvement observed. While such factors may contribute to a smoker’s overall experience, the immediate cognitive boost is most reliably linked to nicotine’s stimulant effects on the brain.
The option about serotonin (option d) is less relevant in this context because nicotine’s acute cognitive effects are more strongly associated with acetylcholine receptor activation and dopamine release rather than serotonin level changes. Nicotine can affect serotonin, but this is not the primary mechanism for the immediate enhancement in cognitive function after smoking.
In summary, the increased concentration and cognitive performance observed after smoking are due to nicotine acting as a CNS stimulant, which enhances neurotransmitter activity involved in alertness and cognition. This biochemical action explains why smokers report feeling mentally sharper following cigarette use.