This book consists of invited reviews from a variety of experts in this area, integrating the present state of knowledge and exploring molecular, biochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioural approaches to studying nicotine and central nicotinic receptors. As well as having implications for health problems associated with tobacco use, the results have enhanced understanding of how central nicotinic mechanisms are involved in other psychiatric and neurologicalstates, such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease.

Jerome H. Jaffe: Tobacco, smoking, and nicotine dependence; Michael D.B. Swedburg, Jack E. Henningfield, & Steven R. Goldberg: Evidence of nicotine dependency from animal studies: self-administration, tolerance, and withdrawal; David M. Warburton: Psychopharmacological aspects of nicotine; Neal L. Benowitz, Herve Porchet, & Peyton Jacob: Pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and pharmacodynamics of nicotine; Paul B.S. Clarke: The central pharmacology of nicotine:
electrophysiological approaches; Kjell Fuxe, Kurt Andersson, Anders Härfstrand, Peter Eneroth, Miguel Perez de la Mora, & Luigi F. Agnati: Effects of nicotine on synaptic transmission in the brain; S. Wonnacott: Characterization of nicotine receptor sites in the brain; I. P. Stolerman: Behavioural pharmacology
of nicotine in animals; C. Reavill: Actions of nicotine on dopamine pathways and implications for Parkinson's disease; Kenneth J. Kellar & S. Wonnacott: Nicotinic-cholinergic receptors in Alzheimer's disease; M.A.H. Russell: Nicotine intake and its control over smoking; Index.