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Review
. 2018;16(4):403-414.
doi: 10.2174/1570159X15666171103152136.

Cognitive Effects of Nicotine: Recent Progress

Gerald Valentine  1   2 , Mehmet Sofuoglu  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Cognitive Effects of Nicotine: Recent Progress

Gerald Valentine et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2018.

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoking is the main cause of preventable death in developed countries. While the direct positive behavioral reinforcing effect of nicotine has historically been considered the primary mechanism driving the development of TUD, accumulating contemporary research suggests that the cognitive-enhancing effects of nicotine may also significantly contribute to the initiation and maintenance of TUD, especially in individuals with pre-existing cognitive deficits.

Methods: We provide a selective overview of recent advances in understanding nicotine's effects on cognitive function, a discussion of the role of cognitive function in vulnerability to TUD, followed by an overview of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the cognitive effects of nicotine.

Results: Preclinical models and human studies have demonstrated that nicotine has cognitiveenhancing effects. Attention, working memory, fine motor skills and episodic memory functions are particularly sensitive to nicotine's effects. Recent studies have demonstrated that the α4, β2, and α7 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) participate in the cognitive-enhancing effects of nicotine. Imaging studies have been instrumental in identifying brain regions where nicotine is active, and research on the dynamics of large-scale networks after activation by, or withdrawal from, nicotine hold promise for improved understanding of the complex actions of nicotine on human cognition.

Conclusion: Because poor cognitive performance at baseline predicts relapse among smokers who are attempting to quit smoking, studies examining the potential efficacy of cognitive-enhancement as strategy for the treatment of TUD may lead to the development of more efficacious interventions.

Keywords: Smoking; behavioral pharmacology; cognition; nAChR; nicotine; nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; smoking cessation; tobacco use disorder..

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
In this bivalent model, the behaviorally relevant effects of nicotine are driven by both negative and positive reinforcement through nicotine’s actions on α4β2 and α7nAChR. Nicotine’s cognitive effects in the prefrontal cortex provide negative reinforcement and nicotine’s effects on reward circuitry in the nucleus accumbens provide positive reinforcement. DA = dopamine. VTA = ventral tegmental area. nAChR = nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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