Duke Nicotine Research Series: Interacting Brain Systems--Nicotine effects on brain function-beyond dopamine

This is part of the Duke Nicotine Research Series. My lab investigates the neural correlates of cognition with particular emphasis on attentional functions, their impairment in people with schizophrenia, and their pharmacological modulation. Of particular interest is the cognitive-enhancing potential of nicotinic compounds, which may possess therapeutic utility in the context of disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. My research aims at pinpointing the neuroanatomical and pharmacological mechanisms responsible for these effects, finding ways to improve their effect size, and exploiting them to enhance the benefits of cognitive training interventions. We also study mechanisms of nicotine dependence in smokers, including smokers with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Our work employs behavioral pharmacology, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, computerized cognitive task paradigms, and preclinical models of cognition Please contact Tyler Lee for Zoom link access