Neuronal effects of nicotine during auditory selective attention

Abstract

Rationale Although the attention-enhancing effects of nicotine have been behaviorally and neurophysiologically well-documented, its localized functional effects during selective attention are poorly understood. Objectives In this study, we examined the neuronal effects of nicotine during auditory selective attention in healthy human nonsmokers. We hypothesized to observe significant effects of nicotine in attention-associated brain areas, driven by nicotine-induced increases in activity as a function of increasing task demands. Methods A single-blind, prospective, randomized crossover design was used to examine neuronal response associated with a go/no-go task after 7 mg nicotine or placebo patch administration in 20 individuals who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3T. The task design included two levels of difficulty (Ordered vs. Random stimuli) and two levels of auditory distraction (Silence vs. Noise). Results Significant treatment × difficulty × distraction interaction effects on neuronal response were observed in the hippocampus, ventral parietal cortex and anterior cingulate. In contrast to our hypothesis, U and inverted U-shaped dependencies were observed between the effects of nicotine on response and task demands, depending on the brain area. Conclusions These results suggest that nicotine may differentially affect neuronal response depending on task conditions. These results have important theoretical implications for understanding how cholinergic tone may influence the neurobiology of selective attention.

Nicotine self‐administration reverses cognitive deficits in a rat model for schizophrenia

“…These data therefore confirm that the cognitive deficits are long lasting in the MIA model and can be repeatedly assessed without any signs of a habituation effect. Our data are also consistent with clinical studies that showed that with respect to selective attention, NIC normalized an existing deficit, without affecting normal performance (Hahn et al ; Smucny et al ).…”

Nicotine ameliorates cognitive deficits induced by maternal LPS exposure: A study in rats

“…Thus, a more specific effect of nicotine was found in this paradigm. Because LI has been directly linked to selective attention, these data are consistent with studies in humans (Bates et al, 1995), where nicotine had a stronger effect in individuals with impairments in selective attention compared to those that display normal levels of attention (Hahn et al, 2012; Smucny et al, 2015). A significant reduction in conditioned taste aversion was observed in the group prenatally exposed to maternal LPS treatment on GD 18-19, a phenomenon that was also reversed by the administration of nicotine.…”

Nicotine restores functional connectivity of the ventral attention network in schizophrenia

“…Indeed, a previous connectivity analysis was able to extract robust, readily identifiable intrinsic networks during a listening task using clustered volume acquisition (including frontal-parietal networks) (Langers and van Dijk, 2011). We have previously used clustered volume acquisition in a number of auditory tasks in schizophrenia, including the SART (Smucny et al, 2014a; Smucny et al, 2013b, c; Tregellas et al, 2007; Tregellas et al, 2009; Tregellas et al, 2012). …”