In the test of short-term memory, non-smokers made the fewest errors, but deprived smokers committed fewer errors than active smokers. The test required people to read 2 passages, than answer questions about them. Non-smokers remembered 19% more of the most important information than active smoker, and deprived smokers did better than those who had smoked a cigarette just before testing.Active smokers tended not only to have poorer memories but also to have trouble separating important information from insignificant details.