Effects of low-yield cigarettes on electroencephalographic dynamics

Previous research had indicated that the smoking of medium tar and nicotine (T/N) yield cigarettes produced a psychostimulant action on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity which was apparent after a single cigarette and was evident as early as the fourth puff. The present study adopted the identical smoking and recording procedure to examine whether low-T/N yield cigarettes produced qualitatively similar EEG profiles as previously observed with medium-yield cigarettes. Although the results indicated similarities in post-smoking EEG profiles of low- and medium-yield cigarettes, discrepancies with several EEG components and temporal (puff-by-puff) EEG features suggested that low-yield cigarettes may exert less impact on brain electric activity. The results are discussed in relation to motivational theories of smoking behavior.