Abstract
Rationale
Tobacco use is linked to cerebral atrophy and reduced cognitive performance in later life. However, smoking-related long-term effects on brain function remain largely uncertain. Previous studies suggest that nicotine affects serotonergic signaling, and the intensity dependence (alias loudness dependence) of the auditory evoked N1-P2 potential has been proposed as a marker of serotonergic neurotransmission.
Objective
In the present study, we assesed the effects of chronic smoking on amplitude and intensity dependence of the auditory evoked N1-P2 potential.
Methods
Subjects underwent a 15-min intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials (IAEP) paradigm. From N = 1739 eligible subjects (40–79 years), we systematically matched current smokers, ex-smokers, and never-smokers by sex, age, alcohol and caffeine consumption, and socioeconomic status. Between-group differences and potential dose-dependencies were evaluated.
Results
Analyses revealed higher N1-P2 amplitudes and intensity dependencies in never-smokers relative to ex- and current smokers, with ex-smokers exhibiting intermediate intensity dependencies. Moreover, we observed pack years and number of cigarettes consumed per day to be inversely correlated with amplitudes in current smokers.
Conclusions
According to the IAEP serotonin hypothesis, our results suggest serotonin activity to be highest in current smokers, intermediate in ex-smokers, and lowest in never-smokers. To our knowledge, the present study is the first providing evidence for a dose-dependent reduction in N1-P2 amplitudes. Further, we extend prior research by showing reduced amplitudes and intensity dependencies in ex-smokers even 25 years, on average, after cessation. While we can rule out several smoking-related confounders to bias observed associations, causal inferences remain to be established by future longitudinal studies.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Mandy Schmidt, Alexander Heinzig, and Ulrike Gessendorfer for their assistance with the data collection and data management and Anne Gärtner, who assisted with the proofreading of the manuscript.
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All procedures were carried out according to the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Leipzig (263-2009-14122009). Subjects gave written informed consent and received an expense allowance.
Conflict of interest
Within the last 3 years, Prof. Hegerl was an advisory board member for Lilly, Lundbeck, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Servier, and Otsuka Pharma and a speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medice Arzneimittel, Novartis, and Roche Pharma. The other authors have no financial or competing interests to declare.
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This publication was supported by LIFE – Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig. This project was funded by means of the European Social Fund and the Free State of Saxony. The funding sources were not involved in the design of the study and writing of the paper.
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Jawinski, P., Mauche, N., Ulke, C. et al. Tobacco use is associated with reduced amplitude and intensity dependence of the cortical auditory evoked N1-P2 component. Psychopharmacology 233, 2173–2183 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4268-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4268-z