• Question: Do you think that smoking affects the speed and efficiency of the brain?

    Asked by kianared13 to Suzi, Damien, Tim on 18 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by Emily.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 18 Jun 2011:

      Hi @kianared13
      Some smokers believe that smoking makes their brain work better, but this is probably only because until they smoke they are suffering from withdrawal so the chemical levels in their brain are unbalanced. When they smoke again their levels are restored.

      Nicotine, the active chemical in tobacco smoke, is a stimulant. It causes a raise in heart rate, which is a physiological response that can cause the mind to focus, because it is a sign that you might need to concentrate (the body does this if it feels threatened for example, so it’s useful to be able to focus if you think you’re under attack).

      Hope this helps, let me know if you’d like me to go in to more detail 🙂

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