Impact of the nicotinergic alpha7 receptor on cortical plasticity in smokers and nonsmokers

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael A. Nitsche
• Subject Area: Biological Psychiatry
• Term: from 2006 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24408615

Nicotine is a strong inductor and modulator of cortical activity and long-term potentiation. Hereby it influences learning and memory processes as well as addiction. Nicotine-dependent cognitive improvements in humans seem to differ between smoking and not smoking individuals, as presumed by the deficit compensating hypothesis of nicotine consumption. This project pursues the following aims: (i) First we will differentiate acute cortical excitability shifts elicited by nicotine in smokers and non-smokers (Collaboration with Prof. Wodarz). (ii) We will induce LTPand LTD-like cortical neuroplasticity changes by transcranial direct current stimulation with and without nicotine in smokers and non-smokers, (iii) We will correlate nicotineenhanced neuroplasticity with cognitive performance and performance-related cerebral activity, as revealed by fMRI, in smokers and non-smokers, (iv) The interdependence of neurophysiological and cognitive effects with genetically defined phenotypes (collaboration with Proff. Winterer, Batra, Andreas) of smokers will be explored. In summary, we aim to develop a neurophysiology-based in vivo model of the impact of nicotine on cerebral function, which will help to understand the mechanisms of nicotine addiction and relapse after withdrawal to a greater extent.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1226: Nicotine: Molecular and Physiological Effects in the Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Walter Paulus