The neurophysiological effects of nicotine and research progress

Nicotine, as the main bioactive component in tobacco, activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the nervous system, triggering a series of complex neurobiological responses, thereby facilitating the formation and maintenance of rewarding effect behaviors. Current research has systematically revealed that the physiological effects of nicotine involve multiple nAChRs subtypes and their regulatory role on the central dopamine system, further influencing the function of neural circuits and behavioral manifestations. At the same time, the interaction between genetic factors and the environment plays an important role in the nicotine reward effect, and neuro-immune responses and dynamic changes in brain functional networks have also been gradually confirmed to be closely related to the formation mechanism of the reward effect. This article systematically reviews the molecular-level interactions between nAChRs and the nicotine ligand, and the molecular mechanism, genetic regulation, and neural circuit characteristics of the neurophysiological effects of nicotine, combined with the latest neuroimaging and genetic progress, focusing on analyzing the current nicotine consumption strategies (such as the transformation of nicotine usage methods) and the development trend of personalized treatment based on nicotine in the future. It also discussed the differences in physiological effects between nicotine and other tobacco alkaloids. This will help researchers to have a more systematic and in-depth understanding of nicotine and its biological characteristics, and help explore more scientific and efficient nicotine biological targets.