This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.People who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) smoke cigarettes at significantly higher rates than people who do not have this diagnosis. The reason for this is unknown. People with ADHD also show deficits in certain areas of cognition. These include the ability to withhold a response (impulse control) and the ability to tolerate delays (waiting). There is evidence that these impairments are related to the level of a chemical in the brain called dopamine. Nicotine, which is contained in cigarettes, is known to increase the release of dopamine in the brain, and has been shown to improve both impulse control and delay tolerance in adults who have ADHD. The goal of this study is to determine if nicotine briefly improves cognitive performance both in young adults with ADHD, and in healthy volunteers who do not have ADHD. This study is not testing nicotine as a treatment for ADHD, but is rather using nicotine to help understand how the differences in the brain functioning of people who have ADHD may affect their behavior. This knowledge may help us understand why so many people who are diagnosed with ADHD smoke cigarettes, and may help in the future development of better and safer treatments for ADHD.
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