Effect of tobacco withdrawal on sustained attention.

Sixteen smokers completed a sustained attention task, were randomly assigned to either continue smoking or abstain for 24 h, and were retested. Eight nonsmokers served as a control group. Abstinence increased the variability in responding. Abstinence also appeared to impair the ability to inhibit responding. Abstinence did not potentiate fatigue during the task. These results are consistent with reports that tobacco withdrawal increases difficulty concentrating and impatience but does not increase fatigue.