Cited by 820Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors StudySmoking Behavior and CessationNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Nicotinic effects on cognitive function: behavioral characterization, pharmacological specification, and anatomic localization

Levin, Edward D., McClernon, F. Joseph, Rezvani, Amir H.·2006·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale Nicotine has been shown in a variety of studies in humans and experimental animals to improve cognitive function. Nicotinic treatments are being developed as therapeutic treatments for cognitive dysfunction.Objectives Critical for the development of nicotinic therapeutics is an understanding of the neurobehavioral bases for nicotinic involvement in cognitive function.Methods Specific and diverse cognitive functions affected by nicotinic treatments are reviewed, including attention, learning, and memory. The neural substrates for these behavioral actions involve the identification of the critical pharmacologic receptor targets, in particular brain locations, and how those incipient targets integrate with broader neural systems involved with cognitive function.Results Nicotine and nicotinic agonists can improve working memory function, learning, and attention. Both alpha4beta2 and alpha7 nicotinic receptors appear to be critical for memory function. The hippocampus and the amygdala in particular have been found to be important for memory, with decreased nicotinic activity in these areas impairing memory. Nicotine and nicotinic analogs have shown promise for inducing cognitive improvement. Positive therapeutic effects have been seen in initial studies with a variety of cognitive dysfunctions, including Alzheimer's disease, age-associated memory impairment, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Conclusions Discovery of the behavioral, pharmacological, and anatomic specificity of nicotinic effects on learning, memory, and attention not only aids the understanding of nicotinic involvement in the basis of cognitive function, but also helps in the development of novel nicotinic treatments for cognitive dysfunction. Nicotinic treatments directed at specific receptor subtypes and nicotinic cotreatments with drugs affecting interacting transmitter systems may provide cognitive benefits most relevant to different syndromes of cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Further research is necessary in order to determine the efficacy and safety of nicotinic treatments of these cognitive disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00213-005-0164-7

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  • Craving and cognitive impairments are reliable markers of nicotine withdrawal.

    “Although craving and cognitive impairments are reliable markers of nicotine withdrawal (Kenney and Gould, 2008; Levin et al, 2006; McClernon et al, 2004; Rezvani and Levin, 2001), anxiety has been shown to impact relapse rate as well (Dani and Harris, 2005; DiMatteo et al, 2000).”

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Authors
Levin, E. D., McClernon, F. J., & Rezvani, A. H.
Affiliations
  • Duke University (US)
  • Duke Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Levin, Edward D.
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2005-10-12
Volume
184
Issue
3-4
Pages
523-539
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2059495695
Cited by
820
References
200
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 68 · 2013: 60 · 2012: 57
FWCI
15.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 64494, R01MH064494)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA015756, DA015756)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
nicotine, nicotinic agonists, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor, alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, cognitive function, working memory, learning, attention, hippocampus, amygdala, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, age-associated memory impairment, cognitive impairment
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Amygdala, Animals, Attention, Cognition, Hippocampus, Humans, Learning, Memory, Nicotine, Receptors, Nicotinic, Schizophrenia, Mice, Rats, alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

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