Nicotinic actions on neuronal networks for cognition: general principles and long-term consequences.
Nicotine enhances cognitive performance in humans and laboratory animals. The immediate positive actions of nicotine on learning, memory and attention are well-documented. Several brain areas involved in cognition, such as the prefrontal cortex, have been implicated. Besides acute effects on these brain areas and on brain function, a picture is emerging showing that long-term consequences of nicotine exposure during adolescence can be detrimental for cognitive performance. The majority of adult smokers started the habit during adolescence. Our knowledge on the types of nicotinic receptors in the brain areas that are candidates for mediating nicotine's effects is increasing. However, much less is known about the underlying cellular mechanisms. A series of recent studies have uncovered exciting features of the mechanisms by which nicotine alters prefrontal cortex neuronal activity, synaptic plasticity, gene expression and cognitive function, and how these changes may have a lasting effect on the developing brain. In this review, we discuss these exciting findings and identify several common principles by which nicotinic receptor activation modulates cortical circuits involved in cognition. Understanding how nicotine induces long-term changes in neuronal circuits and alters plasticity in the prefrontal cortex is essential to determining how these mechanisms interact to alter cognition.
Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, CNCR, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Rogier B
RB
Poorthuis
Natalia A
NA
Goriounova
Jonathan J
JJ
Couey
Huibert D
HD
Mansvelder
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine