Article date: July 1972
By: HEATHER ASHTON, R. D. SAVAGE, ROSEMARY TELFORD, J. W. THOMPSON, D. W. WATSON in Volume 45, Issue 3, pages 546-556
Some behavioural and physiological responses of cigarette smokers and non‐smokers exposed to varying degrees of stress in a driving simulator were compared.
When the smokers were smoking a cigarette, some of their reaction times to light signals differed significantly from those of non‐smokers, some being longer and some shorter. These differences disappeared when the smokers were not smoking.
Of the physiological measurements, only heart rate differed significantly between smokers and non‐smokers, being higher at all levels of stress in the smokers. There were no significant differences in blood pressure, calf blood flow and respiration rate between smokers and non‐smokers.
The results of the Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire showed that the smokers were significantly more extroverted and self‐reliant than the non‐smokers.
The results are discussed in relation to the pharmacology of cigarette smoking. It is concluded that the differences in reaction times and heart rates between smokers and non‐smokers were a consequence of cigarette smoking.
Some behavioural and physiological responses of cigarette smokers and non‐smokers exposed to varying degrees of stress in a driving simulator were compared.
When the smokers were smoking a cigarette, some of their reaction times to light signals differed significantly from those of non‐smokers, some being longer and some shorter. These differences disappeared when the smokers were not smoking.
Of the physiological measurements, only heart rate differed significantly between smokers and non‐smokers, being higher at all levels of stress in the smokers. There were no significant differences in blood pressure, calf blood flow and respiration rate between smokers and non‐smokers.
The results of the Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire showed that the smokers were significantly more extroverted and self‐reliant than the non‐smokers.
The results are discussed in relation to the pharmacology of cigarette smoking. It is concluded that the differences in reaction times and heart rates between smokers and non‐smokers were a consequence of cigarette smoking.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb08112.x
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