text: Activation of 7- nAChRs by prolonged exposure to nicotine is known to alter gene transcription (Chang and Berg, 2001; Dajas-Bailador and Wonnacott, 2004), and signaling through 7-nAChRs on hippocampal neurons has been shown to activate the transcription factor CREB in a manner at least partly independent of NMDA and AMPARs (Hu et al., 2002).