Cited by 82Smoking Behavior and CessationNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorSubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Bupropion improves attention but does not affect impulsive behavior in healthy young adults.

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Acheson, Ashley, de Wit, Harriet·2008·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Bupropion is an effective abstinence aid for cessation of smoking and possibly other drug use as well. There is evidence that bupropion improves attention and impulse control in certain patient populations, and improvements in these processes could mediate its efficacy as an abstinence aid. In the present study, we tested the effects of acute bupropion on measures of attention and impulsivity in healthy adults with d-amphetamine included as a positive control. Twenty-two nonsmokers (11 women) and 11 smokers (4 women) completed four 4-hr sessions where they received placebo, bupropion (150 or 300 mg), or d-amphetamine (20 mg) in capsules. Ninety minutes after capsule administration, participants were tested on attention with a simple reaction time task (SRT) and on impulsivity with the stop task, a delay and probability discounting task (DPD), and the balloon analogue risk task (BART). Participants also completed mood questionnaires during sessions. Bupropion (150 mg) decreased lapses in attention on the SRT, but did not affect performance on the stop task, DPD, or BART. Amphetamine decreased lapses in attention and speeded sensory motor processing time on the SRT but did not significantly affect responding on the stop task or DPD. On the BART, d-amphetamine tended to decrease risk taking in men but increased risk taking in women. Bupropion (300 mg) and d-amphetamine increased ratings of arousal. These results suggest that bupropion improves attention without affecting impulsive behavior in healthy adults. Improvements in attention may contribute to the effectiveness of bupropion as a pharmacotherapy for smoking.

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Authors
Acheson, A., & de Wit, H.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
Venue
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
Published
2008-04
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
113-123
ISSN
  • 1064-1297 (ISSN-L)
  • 1936-2293
OpenAlex
W2072489212
Cited by
82
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
FWCI
4.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Sponsor name not included (DA09133; T32DA07255)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
bupropion, attention, impulsivity, impulse control, smoking cessation, d-amphetamine, reaction time, stop-signal task, delay discounting, probability discounting, Balloon Analogue Risk Task, risk-taking, arousal, mood, healthy young adults
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Attention, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Indoles, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Bupropion, Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors

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