>>14030841nicotine boosted IQ scores in a small sample of smokers, specifically scores on the RAPM12 (possibly related to its increasing global connectivity since IQ is being increasingly reified as measuring the global connectivity of multiple brain subsystems)
reaction time is improved, as is inspection time and visual search (but perhaps due solely to faster motor reaction?)
pilots’ performance enhanced 4⁄5 as much as donepezil does; improves late-day piloting
driving performance enhanced
overnight performance on various memory & attention13 tasks (“These data suggest that when performance is being measured overnight, smokers show little or no impairment, whilst the performance of non-smokers showed performance decrements.”)
faster performance on Stroop and word classification
“…acute nicotine administration may exert direct beneficial effects on novelty detection and subsequent memory recognition”
in smokers, improved prospective memory (things one intends to do); Rusted et al 2005
can improve handwriting
helps ADHD (Conners et al 1996; or Levin et al 1996 - as well as OCD, see previous footnote): “Results indicate significant clinician-rated global improvement, self-rated vigor and concentration, and improved performance on chronometric measures of attention and timing accuracy.”
may help depression1415
may help symptoms of schizophrenia via increased synthesis of GABA & increased effectiveness of cognitive training (see Wikipedia), and protect against Parkinson’s & Alzheimers, see Fratiglioni & Wang 200016 but note the difficulties in dealing with mortality bias (or just general cognitive impairment in the elderly)
https://www.gwern.net/Nicotine#benefits 
