Assessing Top Down and Bottom Up Attention Mechanisms in Smokers Using Nicotine Nasal Spray

Objective: The objective is to investigate the dose-response effect of nicotine on the top-down and bottom-up mechanisms of attention in cigarette smokers. Study population: Male and nonpregnant-female smokers 18 to 55 years of age. Design: This study is a double-blind, placebo controlled trial of nicotine or placebo nasal sprays. Participants have five visits: a training session and four experimental sessions. Each participant receives a test dose of the nasal spray immediately following the training session to ascertain tolerability and become familiarized with the effect of the spray. One dose (0, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mg) of nicotine nasal spray is administered at the beginning of each experimental session followed by the test battery. Outcome Measures: Outcome measures are vital signs, ratings of mood and drug effect, and performance (accuracy, response time) on a test of selective attention.