2-Minute Neuroscience: Nicotine

Nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco, and thus one of the most widely used and abused drugs in the world. In this video, I discuss how nicotine interacts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems to produce its behavioral effects.

TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome to 2-minute neuroscience, where I explain neuroscience topics in 2 minutes or less. In this installment I will discuss nicotine.

Nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco. It primarily exerts its effects by activating, or acting as an agonist, at certain receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These receptors, known as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are found throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. When nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, it typically causes depolarization of the neuron they are found on and the resultant release of a variety of neurotransmitters.

Nicotine’s action at acetylcholine receptors is thought to be the starting point for the drug’s behavioral effects, but exactly how it produces these effects is not completely clear. Nicotine’s rewarding and addictive qualities are thought to be linked to its ability to cause increased dopamine levels in areas like the nucleus accumbens. Nicotine also increases acetylcholine release, which might contribute to the enhanced attention and cognitive function associated with its use. And its ability to increase norepinephrine activity might contribute to the heightened arousal caused by the drug. In all of these effects, however, it’s likely multiple neurotransmitter systems are involved.

Nicotine also acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the peripheral nervous system, where it can lead to increased sympathetic nervous system activity like an elevated heart rate and blood pressure. It also causes the increased release of catecholamines like epinephrine from the adrenal glands, which can further enhance this sympathetic activity.

Although nicotine first activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, it subsequently causes the receptors to become desensitized, or less responsive, increasing tolerance to repeated uses of the drug. As more receptors become desensitized, the brain tends to up-regulate, or add more, acetylcholine receptors. These increased receptor numbers might play a role in the withdrawal and craving that occurs when nicotine administration is ended.

References:

Dani JA, De Biasi M. Cellular mechanisms of nicotine addiction. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001 Dec;70(4):439-46.

Grenhoff J, Svensson TH. Pharmacology of nicotine. Br J Addict. 1989 May;84(5):477-92.

Zevin S, Gourlay SG, Benowitz NL. Clinical pharmacology of nicotine. Clin Dermatol. 1998 Sep-Oct;16(5):557-64.

[BrianandGage]

I really appreciate how you just give the facts, I love learning about the affects of drugs on the brain but so many videos are packed with bias. Like, even if I agree that you shouldn’t do heroine I still wanna know how it works😂

[autodidacticartisan]

This is too good of a video to have only 16k views

[quagengineer]

Wow, I couldn't find a more precise and informative video about it. I searched "effect of nicotine in the brain" and found exactly that! Thank you very much

[howtomedicate]

I am always amazed that you can pack so much information in 2 minutes! Thank you!

[ddbulley]

First buzzes feel dizzy but after a bit I begin to feel lethargic

[jackhoff]

Finally, a video with actual information about nicotine and not a scare video to put kids in line

[iyziejane]

It's bizarre that our society strongly discourages relatively safe methods of nicotine usage, while treating TV/media consumption, fast food, soda, sexual hookups, etc as things that people are going to inevitably do. All those behaviors are more destructive than vaping or smokeless tobacco use. Meanwhile, nicotine boosts mental alertness, testosterone, and work drive. Our ancestors in the 1500s loved tobacco so much that it spread across the globe, and many geniuses who contributed to our modern world, like Isaac Newton or the US founding fathers, were regular users. Using tobacco can be an intelligent and deliberate choice.

[kurean]

Such a good video! Short and concise. Straight to the point well done!

[aiodensghost]

As someone who has used nicotine since they where 13 (and I was one of the first few in school who started that early, most didn't start until they where 17) this was rather informative and frankly I'd rather this be presented in school instead of what we got the whole time. I've made some bad choices and weed helped me get away from long-term nicotine use. That said nicotine is like caffeine for me

[slappyhappy]

I think the process and pain/discomfort/anxiety of withdrawal is the death throws of a dying receptor. It is programmed to survive by all means

[moseshilow]

I started nicotine (I don't smoke cigarettes) when I had a stressful week with my assistant manager. He was not qualified for the job and my boss chose to hire him after chatting with him at a bar.

I started using it so much and made me feel better for a bit. I am still doing it and it has been one ride.

Edit: I forgot the time frame it has been a year and a half since I started.

[AfroNeko]

The thing is, its so addictive because it works so well for whatever situation that prompted it. Depression? Trauma? Breakup? Impossible task? Self medicating ADHD? It will help you, and will continue to do so for a few days, making EVERY situation better, good, bad doesn't matter. But then one day it doesn't.

It only works once.

But once is all it takes.

The horrible part is, since gene promotion/upregulation has brought about so many receptors, is that when an addict relapses, it is often stronger in effect.
Best case scenario: Your receptors in your stomach go top-fuel drag and give you an experience akin to that scene from the exorcist. You are now disgusted by the mere thought of nicotine, for now at least. You have a 30% chance of you actually stopping in response to this.

Worst: That narrow "theraputic" index is bullseyed, and it's bliss, even better than that first time, for about 30 mins. Finishing that assignment (You should really start it btw) is worse than whatever trauma started you on nicotine. You chase that same glorious buzz for the next 4 weeks until you repeat the cycle.

[unknownentity]

I wonder how long does the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to down regulate back to their original levels, and become "normal", if that even is possible.
If someone knows studies done on this topic let me know. Yes I'm also aware that it depends on many factors like how long the use has been, dosage etc.

Just wondering because I quit using dip about a year ago after about 7 years of continious use, and have noticed still cravings sometimes.

[TheFilledk]

As someone that never smoked in my life, last year I tried nicotine pouched, and I liked the effect it gave me, I took more to get that high, now 11 months after I don't get the high at all, but I'm addicted, when I don't get it I get a crazy headache (like a concussion type migraine), one of there nicotine pouches is equivalent to 20 cigarettes in terms of nicotine, and I take around 10/14 a day, srsly don't start

[SameAsAnyOtherStranger]

I read that nicotine, somewhat enhanced by the low level radioactivity of tobacco activates once dormant vestigial neurons. Which is part of why nicotine addiction is so difficult to overcome. While most drugs act as agonists on existing neurons and other less potent agonists can used to satiate cravings, the neural receptors acted on by nicotine only respond to nicotine since the body no longer processes the natural agonists that act on those neurons.

[peanutbutter]

Next do the effects on body function like low blood flow and low testosterone blood pressure etc. I think we need to hear it

[sylocin]

Dont agonists cause a downregulation? Because if more Nicotinic Receptors are made, theres more receptors for Nicotine to bind to.

[mja]

Thank you for doing my chem final for me

[arunghanta]

Dad: Did you smoke a cigarette?
Me: No! I just self-administered nicotine!

[zaynumar]

Trying to Quit traditional tobacco cigarettes and now I have purchased a Juul 2 Device to limit my use of conventional cigs. Wish me luck on my now lifelong nicotine addiction. 9th April 2022