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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are possible therapeutic targets for schizophrenia, as shown by neurobiological and molecular evidence for deficiencies in expression of α ₇ -nicotinic receptors. Patients’ heavy smoking suggests attempted self-medication through this mechanism. The agent 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene) anabaseine (DMXB-A) is a partial α ₇ -nicotinic agonist and can be taken orally. A phase 1 trial showed evidence for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia. Thirty-one subjects with schizophrenia received DMXB-A at two different doses and placebo for periods of 4 weeks in a three-arm, two-site, double-blind, crossover phase 2 trial. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery assessed cognitive effects, and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) assessed clinical …