Pages: 46-53

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to compare the executive functions among smokers, hookah users and ordinary people. This is causal-comparative research. The population of this study includes all consumers of cigarettes, hookahs and ordinary people aged 18 to 60 years in Mashhad. The samples were also 90 members of the community were selected by available sampling. Tools used in this research include the Tower of London and n-back test to investigate the executive actions of study subjects. Data obtained from research were analyzed through SPSS statistical software and using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as ANOVA. Based on the findings of this study, the total time of test in the Tower of London in smokers and hookah users was significantly more than ordinary people. Also among smokers and hookah users there was no deference on the total time of test. Planning time in the Tower of London in smokers and hookah users was significantly more than ordinary people. Also among smokers and hookah users there was no deference on planning time. The number of movements in the Tower of London in smokers and hookah users was significantly more than ordinary people. Also among smokers and hookah users there was no deference on the number of movements. False movements in the Tower of London in smokers and hookah users were significantly more than ordinary people. Also among smokers and hookah users there was no deference on false movements. Based on the results of the n-back test on executive functions on the number of mistakes of smokers, hookah and ordinary it is demonstrated that in n-back test smokers and hookah users had significantly more mistakes than ordinary people. Also among smokers and hookah users there was no significant difference on the number of mistakes. Also based on the results of the n-back test on executive functions the mean reaction times of smokers, hookah and ordinary it is demonstrated that there is no significant difference among the three groups.