Effects of Acute Nicotine Treatment on Neuroplasticity and Memory in Patients With Schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia display cognitive impairments, such as reduced attention and problems with memory. Available medications for schizophrenia poorly alleviate memory problems however, research indicates that nicotine improves memory. In order for there to be memories formed, there has to be changes (neuroplasticity changes) in how the brain cells communicate. One way to induce such changes is by using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with peripheral nerve stimulation in a Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS) paradigm. The investigators laboratory has developed a novel method that measures memory-like brain changes using electroencephalography (EEG), TMS and PAS. The present study will use this novel method to evaluate the effects of acute nicotine gum (4mg) and placebo (regular) gum on memory and memory-like brain changes in schizophrenia and healthy controls. The hypothesis is that nicotine will improve memory and facilitate neuroplasticity changes in the prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia to a larger extent than in healthy controls.