Abstract
Cognitive effects of tobacco and nicotine in human subjects. In this review the relevant investigations about nicotine and tobacco effects on information processing in human subjects are presented. In the introduction psychopharmacological aspects of nicotine and hypothesis about tobacco consumption are examined. Following this general introduction we reviewed effects of tobacco and nicotine on several cognitive processes: 1)Psychomotor performance, 3) Attentional processes, 3) Memory and 4) Other cognitive and real life tasks. These effects are related to possible use of nicotine in the treatment of cognitive déficits characteristic of Alzheimer`s disease. Finally, methodological and theoretical problems which arose in these investigations are discussed.