Nicotine, cognitive effects

Historically ganglionic nAChR have been targets for treating hypertension. The discovery of a large family of nAChR subtypes in the CNS, coupled with observations that nicotine has anti-nociceptive, neuro-protective and cognitive effects, has led to the recognition that neuronal nAChR are potential targets... 

Nicotinic receptors are widely distributed in the brain and are involved in a number of physiological processes. The prefrontal cortex is a major site for the cognitive effects of nicotine (Vidal 1996). Some of the cognitive benefits of nicotine may occur after chronic treatment, resulting in part from nicotinic receptor up-regulation in frontal, entorhinal, and dorsal hippocampal regions (Abdulla et al. 1996). Chronic nicotine treatment also increases the sensitivity of muscarinic receptors (Wang et al. 1996). 

Behavioral and cognitive effects Lobeline appears to be reinforcing in a similar manner to nicotine. Despite weak nicotinic effects, drug-naive animals will self-administer lobeline, as they would with other reinforc-... 

Cognitive effects Animais Cognitive effects of nicotine have been observed in several species, including humans. Experimental studies have focused primarily on the effects on attention and memory. Cognitive benefits are seen after both acute and chronic administration (Levin et al. 1992). In experimental animals, nicotine improves learning and memory on a variety of tasks. Conversely, the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine... 

Cognitive effects Human nonsmokers Administration of nicotine to tobacco nonusers produces small cognitive enhancements. Studies in tobacco nonusers have primarily measured attention, information processing speed, and memory. Nicotine improves perceptual speed, choice reaction time, and digit recall (Stough et al. 1995 Le Houezec et al. 1994 Foulds et al. 1996). Improvements also occur in digit symbol substitution and continuous performance tests without reducing accuracy (Petrie and Deary 1989 Levin et al. 1998). 

Shiftman S, Paty JA, Gnys M, Kassel JD, Elash C. (1995). Nicotine withdrawal in chippers and regular smokers subjective and cognitive effects. Health Psychol. 14(4) 301-9. 

Stankov B, Cimino M, Marini P, Lucini V, Fraschini F, dementi F. (1993). Identification and functional significance of nicotinic choiinergic receptors in the rat pineal gland. NeuroscI Lett. 156(1-2) 131-34. Stein MA, Krasowski M, Leventhai BL, Phiiiips W, Bender BG. (1996). Behavioral and cognitive effects of methyixanthines. A meta-anaiysis of theophylline and caffeine. Arch Pedlatr Adolesc Med. 150(3) 284-8. 

Kumari V, Gray JA, Ffytche DH, Mitterschiffthaler MT, Das M, Zachariah E, VytheUngum GN, Wifliams SCR, Simmons A, Sharma T (2003) Cognitive effects of nicotine in humans an fMRl study. Neuroimage 19 1002-1013... 

The studies summarized above indicate that while nicotine has sexually dimorphic effects on cognitive processes, no generalizations can be made. The effects depend on the type of test and performance measures as well as on the route and regimen of nicotine administration. Eurthermore, the species, strain and age of animals, motivation, and mood would have substantial impact on the cognitive effects of nicotine. 

Newhouse PA, Potter A, Corwin J, et al Acute cognitive effects of nicotine in Alzheimer s and Parkinson s disease. Paper presented at the 34th annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 11-15, 1995... 

Fallon, J. H., Keator, D., Mbgori, J., Potkin, S. G. (2004). Hostility differentiates the brain metabolic effects of nicotine. Cognitive Brain Research, 18, 142-148. 

Newhouse et al. (1988 1993 1996)have examined the effects of intravenous nicotine in AD with particular attention on tasks that are affected by mecamylamine. Analysis of the cognitive effects of nicotine in the AD group showed that there was a significant dose-related decrease in verbal learning errors, with a U -shaped dose-response curve. A similar improvement pattern was seen in... 

Additional studies investigating nicotine and its biological effects are numerous a few examples will be listed here. The damage induced increase in alkaloid production in Nicotiana, and its mechanism have been investigated [44,45], Nicotine biosynthesis continues to be studied [46,47] and has included the use of NMR [48]. A synthesis of 1 from 3,3 -dipyridyl was reported [49]. Nicotine showed potential as a molluscicide [50], it was a potent inhibitor of TAK-induced activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes [51], and it caused reduction of herpes simplex virus type 1 production, as well as reduction of viral attachment to cell membranes [52]. Mechanisms involved in the behavioral and cognitive effects of nicotine have been investigated [53]. 

Ghatan, P.H., Ingvar, M., Eriksson, L. et al. Cerebral effects of nicotine during cognition in smokers and non-smokers. Psychopharmacology. 136 179, 1998. 

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