Effects of acute nicotine administration on resting EEG in nonsmokers

Smoking/nicotine has been shown to increase brain arousal states, yet previous studies have failed to distinguish between absolute improvements due to nicotine versus relief from withdrawal symptoms in smokers. This study examined the electrocortical response to nicotine in a nonsmoking population, in order to negate potential withdrawal symptoms. Twenty right-handed, nonsmoking participants were administered nicotine (6 mg) or placebo gum within a double-blind, repeated-measures design. In each session, EEG was recorded during a 2-min, resting, eyes-open condition. Nicotine administration (vs. placebo) resulted in significantly greater frontal (specifically left-frontal) alpha2 power. Similar to previous findings in smokers. The absence of slow-wave changes following nicotine in nonsmokers suggest that these previous results in smokers may be related to withdrawal state.