Prefrontal neuromodulation by nicotinic receptors for cognitive processes

Abstract

nAChRs are crucial for decision-making, during integration of emotional and motivational features, both mediated by different NT pathways in the PFC. We review the knowledge recently gained on cognitive functions in mice and our current understanding of PFC NT modulation. The combination of these data is expected to provide new hypotheses concerning the role of AChRs in cognitive processes.

Comparing outcomes of adjunctive treatment in depression: Aripiprazole versus Bupropion

“…An unmeasured side effect in this particular study could be altered cognitive function. Bupropion alters the acetylcholine system (Salin-Pascual et al, 2003), where receptors are hypothesized to have an integral role in cognitive function (Bubser et al, 2012;dos Santos Coura and Granon, 2012). Conversely, aripiprazole has no appreciable affinity for acetylcholine receptors (Burris et al, 2002;Jordan et al, 2002;Shapiro et al, 2003).…”

Cognitive Effects of Nicotine

“…The two most commonly expressed nAChRs in the brain are α4β2 and α7 nAChRs (Dani and Bertrand, 2007). Activation of nAChRs increases extracellular levels of DA in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex; these brain areas are thought to be critical in mediating the rewarding and cognitive effects of nicotine, respectively (Balfour, 2009;Corrigall et al, 1992;Dos Santos Coura and Granon, 2012;Rahman et al, 2008).…”

“…In addition to ACh and DA, other neurotransmitters participate in mediating the cognitive-enhancing effects of nicotine in both the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (Dos Santos Coura and Granon, 2012;Parikh et al, 2008;Sarter et al, 2009). The connections between the prefrontal cortex and many other cortical and subcortical areas, including the limbic system and the hippocampus, create a functional circuit that serves many cognitive functions, including attention, working memory, response inhibition, and decision making.…”

“…Over the past decade, there have been great advances in the understanding of the neurobiology of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) as it relates to cognitive function and the reward (Changeux, 2010;Dos Santos Coura and Granon, 2012). Further more, functional neuroimaging studies provide essential information regarding the brain regions that mediate the rewarding and cognitive effects of nicotine (Newhouse et al, 2011;Sharma and Brody, 2009).…”

“…The chapter will primarily focus on the acute effects that nicotine has on cognitive performance; the long-term (chronic) cognitive effects of smoking will not be covered (Swan and Lessov-Schlaggar, 2007). For more details, several recent reviews provide excellent overviews of behavioral pharmacology (Heishman et al, 2010), neuroimaging (Newhouse et al, 2011;Sharma and Brody, 2009), and preclinical studies (Dos Santos Coura and Granon, 2012;Mansvelder et al, 2006;Poorthuis et al, 2009) of this broad topic.…”