The study of an executive function in smokers and nonsmokers: Components of cognitive flexibility

Background and Aim: Although smoking prevalence has declined in recent years, some studies have indicated that individuals showing cognitive and affective impairments are at higher risk for smoking and tobacco addiction. While the abusers of some substances have been shown to suffer from impairments in executive functions, very few studies have examined the effects of smoking on cognitive flexibility. These studies have shown that chronic cigarette smoking is associated with decreased cognitive performance in middle age and increased risk for cognitive decline later in life. Other researchers show that smoking selectively impaired cognitive flexibility in high-dependent smokers, while some of these results propose that nicotine can enhance or facilitate some aspects of cognitive processing. Accordingly, the studies are not consistent in demonstrating these effects, and the effect of nicotine on cognitive functions may be an important factor in smoking and nicotine abuse. Methods: The research was a study with causal-comparative design. The population was all smoker and nonsmoker students of Arak University in ۲۰۱۸-۲۰۱۹ years. Two smoker group (n=۴۵) and nonsmoker group (n=۴۵) were completed the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). Finally, these groups were compared in perceive the controllability and cognitive alternatives by Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Results: This research was conducted with the aim of examination the cognitive flexibility (perceive the controllability and cognitive alternatives) in smokers and nonsmokers. Conclusion The results indicated a nonsignificant difference in the liner composition of dependent variables of two groups (wilks, lambda= ۰/۹۶۵, F۸۷,۲= ۱/۵۷۱, p= ۰/۲۱۴). Univariate analysis of variance indicated that the smoker group and nonsmoker group had not significant differences in perceive the controllability and cognitive alternatives. In general, the level of cognitive flexibility in smokers and nonsmokers was not different. Therefore, it is necessary to considering and comparing the subgroups of smokers and nonsmokers to evaluation and response to questions related to cognitive deficits and smoking.

کلیدواژه ها:

Executive function ، cognitive flexibility ، smoking