Abstract
Most schizophrenic patients have a deficit in auditory sensory gating that appears to be mediated by the alpha-7 nicotinic receptor. This pilot study examines the effects of varenicline, an alpha-7 agonist, on the P50 auditory evoked potential in six schizophrenic patients. The study was canceled because of concerning side effects consistent with those reported by the FDA. However, in this small group of subjects, varenicline did not consistently enhance P50 auditory gating.