I don't believe that research paper OP linked to is false in anyway. PNAS is a pretty reputed journal.But these sociophysiological studies have so much gray area of interpretation, that any conclusion that you draw will be biased in someway because there always appears to be a whole ton of other factors involved. However, his misappropriation of the findings from that study and applying to NFL athletes is pretty ridiculous. There have been studies where they have shown that nicotine improves fine motor skills and short term memory. Does that mean Bills players should start huffing Marlboros every time they sit down to read the playbook? OP is a prime example of why a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.