EFFECT OF ACUTE NICOTINE ADMINISTRATION ON MOTOR PERFORMANCE IN ADHD

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Adolescents who suffer from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) appear to be at substantially higher risk of becoming cigarette smokers than non-ADHD adolescents. One reason for this may be that nicotine, the psychoactive ingredient in tobacco, may have beneficial effects on some of the symptoms of ADHD making the experience of smoking more reinforcing for individuals with ADHD. We have preliminary evidence that nicotine has acute positive effects on some of the core cognitive deficits in ADHD. We believe that nicotine may also have positive effects on motor functioning in ADHD, and that the positive effects on nicotine on both cognitive and motor symptoms may contribute substantially to the higher risk of chronic tobacco use/abuse in these adolescents and adults.