Open AccessNeuronal effects of nicotine during auditory selective attention in schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Smucny Jason,
Olincy Ann,
Rojas Donald C.,
Tregellas Jason R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.23040
Subject(s) - nicotine , placebo , psychology , anterior cingulate cortex , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , audiology , hippocampus , neuroscience , cingulate cortex , cognition , medicine , psychiatry , central nervous system , alternative medicine , pathology
Although nicotine has been shown to improve attention deficits in schizophrenia, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this effect are poorly understood. We hypothesized that nicotine would modulate attention‐associated neuronal response in schizophrenia patients in the ventral parietal cortex (VPC), hippocampus, and anterior cingulate based on previous findings in control subjects. To test this hypothesis, the present study examined response in these regions in a cohort of nonsmoking patients and healthy control subjects using an auditory selective attention task with environmental noise distractors during placebo and nicotine administration. In agreement with our hypothesis, significant diagnosis (Control vs. Patient) X drug (Placebo vs. Nicotine) interactions were observed in the VPC and hippocampus. The interaction was driven by task‐associated hyperactivity in patients (relative to healthy controls) during placebo administration, and decreased hyperactivity in patients after nicotine administration (relative to placebo). No significant interaction was observed in the anterior cingulate. Task‐associated hyperactivity of the VPC predicted poor task performance in patients during placebo. Poor task performance also predicted symptoms in patients as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. These results are the first to suggest that nicotine may modulate brain activity in a selective attention‐dependent manner in schizophrenia. Hum Brain Mapp 37:410–421, 2016 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.