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The scientists who conducted the study examined the effects of nicotine on the brains of young rodents, which are similar in important ways to human teenagers’ brains when it comes to cognitive development. Unfortunately, the researchers found that rodents that are exposed to nicotine “exhibit many of the same physiological and behavioral changes as human adolescents” and that they struggle to learn new skills. These rodents negotiated mazes more slowly and solved food-based puzzles less effectively than rats that were not exposed to nicotine. All of these points emphasize a crucial point—nicotine impacts cognitive development in a way that worsens nicotine use by making a teen less capable of withstanding use triggers. And as a teen’s use of

Nicotine exposure during adolescence can hamper a young person’s brain development. Scientists have found that the brain continues to develop until a person is about twenty-five years old.

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Nicotine Affects Learning Capabilities