The Effect of Nicotine (via Electronic Cigarette) on Cognition

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The present study examined the effect of nicotine on human cognition and memory. The study will focus of electronic cigarettes and its impact on human cognition and memory. This study will also talk about cognitive and memory in general to develop a better understanding. The method used in this study is secondary data analysis which is the tool of qualitative research.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

TABLE OF CONTENTSV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Purpose1

Effects of Nicotine and Snuff on Information Processing8

Cognition and Memory9

Immediate Memory Tasks10

Task delayed recall12

Other cognitive tasks and applied13

Nicotine and Alzheimer's disease14

CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY17

Design17

Participants17

Materials/ Measures17

Procedure18

Literature Search21

Inclusion and exclusion criteria22

Ethical Concerns22

Validity22

Reliability/Dependability23

Limitations and Suggestion for Future Research24

CHAPTER 3: RESULTS25

Analysis of the results25

Interpretation of the results28

Comparison of Results with Previous Studies29

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION31

REFERENCES35

APPENDIX43

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine without any combustion or smoke. These devices have generated much publicity among the smoking-cessation community and support from dedicated users; however, little is known about the efficacy of the device as a smoking-cessation tool.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation using a survey of smokers who had tried e-cigarettes.

Nicotine, a colourless, oily compound, is the drug contained in tobacco that addicts the smoker. It is the fastest addictive drug known to mankind, and it can take just one cigarette to become hooked. Every puff on a cigarette delivers, via lungs to the brain, a small dose of nicotine that acts more rapidly than the dose of heroin the addict injects into his veins.

Nicotine is a quick- acting drug, and levels in the blood- stream fall quickly to about half within thirty minutes of smoking a cigarette. This explains why most smokers average about twenty per day (Allen Carr, 2004). As soon as the smoker extinguishes the cigarette, the nicotine rapidly starts to leave the body and the smoker begins to suffer withdrawal pangs.

This current study attempts to investigate whether nicotine administered via electronic cigarette has an effect on cognition (e.g. CPT, AVLT, ) in comparison with the placebo electronic cigarette. In a normal cigarette, produced by the combustion of plant parts and attached additives tar, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and a host of other harmful, toxic and carcinogenic substances.

The electronic cigarette or e-cigarette are generic names identifying generators of aerosol whose shape is reminiscent of the cigarette and used to deliver to users of steam or "artificial smoke" flavored with or without the nicotine . Other features of the same type exist, such as: e-cigar and the ...