Brain electrical imaging the dose-response effects of cigarette smoking

Quantitative regional electroencephalographic (EEG) effects of cigarette smoking were examined within a repeated measures design which assessed, and topographically displayed, changes in power spectral estimates resulting from the smoking of low, medium and high tar/nicotine (T/N) yield cigarettes. Although intercigarette yield comparisons revealed no significant EEG differences between yields, comparison of the effects of smoking each yield with sham smoking indicated the presence of a qualitative dose-response effect whereby increasing T/N yields resulted in a progressive posterior-to-anterior spreading of significant relative power changes within both theta and alpha frequency bands. These exploratory findings are discussed in relation to smoking maintenance and working hypotheses are formulated for future testing.