Effects of fetal tobacco exposure on focused attention in infancy

Shannon Shisler; Rina D Eiden; Danielle S Molnar; Pamela Schuetze; Claire D Coles; Marilyn Huestis; Craig R Colder

doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2016.07.008

Effects of fetal tobacco exposure on focused attention in infancy

Infant Behav Dev. 2016 Nov;45(Pt A):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2016.07.008. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Authors

Shannon Shisler¹, Rina D Eiden², Danielle S Molnar³, Pamela Schuetze⁴, Claire D Coles⁵, Marilyn Huestis⁶, Craig R Colder⁷

Affiliations

¹ Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Psychology, SUNY Buffalo State, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222-1095, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics, Emory University, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Chemistry and Drug Metabolism, IRP, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Biomedical Research Center, Suite 200 Room 05A-721, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 227 Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

This study examined the association between fetal tobacco exposure (FTE) and focused attention at 9 months of child age, and the role of child sex and infant behavioral reactivity as potential moderators of this association. Data were obtained from 203 mothers and their infants (105 fetally exposed and 98 non-exposed) on infant focused attention and behavioral reactivity to a frustration task. FTE was ascertained via nicotine metabolites in infant meconium, reflecting primarily third trimester fetal exposure. Results demonstrated a main effect of FTE on focused attention, such that exposed infants exhibited lower levels of focused attention than non-exposed infants. Behavioral reactivity, but not infant sex, moderated the relationship between FTE and focused attention, such that exposed infants who were highly reactive to frustration had the lowest levels of focused attention. Results suggest that smoking interventions, even in the third trimester, may have a positive impact on attentional outcomes for infants.

Keywords: Behavioral reactivity; Focused attention; Infants; Prenatal tobacco exposure.

MeSH terms

Attention / physiology*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior / physiology*
Irritable Mood / physiology*
Male
Nicotiana / adverse effects*
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / chemically induced*
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / physiopathology*

Grants and funding

R01 DA019632/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States