Nicotine usage is associated with elevated processing speed, spatial working memory, and visual learning performance in youth at ultrahigh-risk for psychosis

Research has stressed a link between nicotine and cognition in schizophrenia but this has not been examined in youth at ultrahigh-risk (UHR) for psychosis. A total of 35 UHR and 32 control participants were assessed for naturalistic nicotine-use and administered a cognitive battery. Smoking was reported more frequently in the UHR group (46%) than controls (22%). Frequent smoking was associated with elevated cognitive performance in the UHR group, highlighting a need for experimental investigations. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.