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. 2020 Aug;10(8):e01619.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.1619. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on brain functioning in never-smoking adolescents

Joyce Dieleman  1   2 , Marloes Kleinjan  1   3 , Roy Otten  2   4   5 , Hein T van Schie  2 , Vivian Heuvelmans  6 , Maartje Luijten  2
Affiliations

Effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on brain functioning in never-smoking adolescents

Joyce Dieleman et al. Brain Behav. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Brain functioning, as indexed by event-related potentials (ERPs) representing smoking cue reactivity, inhibitory control, and reward processing, has been found to be compromised in smokers. However, whether environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in never smokers results in similar brain changes is unknown. This question is particularly relevant during adolescence, given ongoing brain maturation and a high risk of smoking initiation. The present study tested the associations between ETS exposure and ERPs reflecting cue reactivity (P3, LPP), inhibitory control (N2, P3), and reward processing (anticipation P3 (P3), feedback-related negativity (FRN)) among never-smoking adolescents.

Methods: Eighty-four never-smoking adolescents (nonexposed = 32, exposed = 52) performed a smoking cue reactivity, a Go/NoGo, and a monetary incentive delay (MID) task while ERPs were measured.

Results: Exposed and nonexposed groups did not differ in ERPs reflecting smoking cue reactivity, inhibitory control, and reward processing. A negative correlation between ETS exposure and the anticipatory P3 suggests reduced anticipatory reward sensitivity for nondrug rewards with increased levels of ETS exposure. However, since this effect was not consistent across analyses, no strong conclusions can be formulated. In the current study, few participants reported high levels of ETS exposure; therefore, further study is necessary.

Conclusions: Nevertheless, from this study, it can be concluded that low-to-moderate exposure to ETS during adolescence does not result in functional brain changes related to smoking cue reactivity, inhibitory control, and reward processing.

Keywords: ERPs; environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure; nicotine dependence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Experimental tasks
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Smoking cue‐reactivity, P3 and late positive potential
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Reward processing—anticipation, P3
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Reward processing—outcome, feedback‐related negativity
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Inhibitory control—Go/NoGo task, N2
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Inhibitory control—Go/NoGo task, P3
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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