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α5 nicotinic receptors link smoking to schizophrenia

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A new study shows that nicotinic receptors activate a particular type of interneuron in the prefrontal cortex. Deficits in this relationship give rise to behavioral abnormalities similar to those associated with schizophrenia, which can be ameliorated by nicotine.

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Figure 1: Linking brain circuits in schizophrenia and nicotine.

Debbie Maizels/Springer Nature

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xin-an Liu and Paul J. Kenny are in the Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,

    Xin-an Liu & Paul J Kenny

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  1. Xin-an Liu
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  2. Paul J Kenny
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Correspondence to Paul J Kenny.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Liu, Xa., Kenny, P. α5 nicotinic receptors link smoking to schizophrenia. Nat Med 23, 277–278 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.4300

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