Tobacco Documents Online

. ~PHIILIP MORRIS INCORPORATED INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE 120 PAR1C' AVENUE, NE1N YORK, N:Y. 10017 ' TO1 AROM Distribution DATE: January 12, 1983 Gina Mi. Gallovich MwM "Smoking, Nicotine and Electrocortical Activity"' by John Edwards and David Warburton John Edwards and David Warburton of the University of Reading (UK) have written an article entitled "'Sfioking, Nicotine and Electrocortical Activity" to be published in Pharmacology andTherapeutics. The work, supported by a grant from.Carreras Rothmans Ltd., is based on a selective review of 76 books andi articles published internationally on the effects of nicotine on the electrical activity of'the cortex, the part of'the brain that controls the higher mental function, e.g., reading, writing and perception. , While the literature does not show conclusive resultS, it does indicate that nicotine does have an effect on electrocortical activity. For example, some scientists believe that there are constitutional differences between smokers and nonsmokers andi that smokers use nicotine to "normalize"'their operating levels. Other scientists~believe there are no constitutional differences between the two groups, but that smokers use nicotine to enhance their performance. There is also speculation that chronic exposure to nicotine may impair the efficiency of nerve cell activity and!only continued smoking helps to maintain normal function.. The alu!thors envisionia bxight future for further studies in this area. Edwards and Warbuirton believe that this area of research will eventually uncover the biological motives for cigarette smoking.