Neurophysiological functioning of occasional and heavy cannabis users during THC intoxication
Eef L. Theunissen, Gerold F. Kauert, Stefan W. Toennes, Manfred R. Moeller, Anke Sambeth, Mathieu Blanchard, Johannes G. Ramaekers
Psychopharmacology October 5, 2011 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2479-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Occasional and heavy cannabis users |
| Intervention | THC |
| Dose | 500 μg/kg body weight THC |
| Topics | Cannabis CBD |
| Keywords | Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Dronabinol Crossover study Placebo Effects of cannabis Audiology Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol Drug tolerance Cannabinoid |
| Citations | 82 |
| Key points | Heavy cannabis users show tolerance to THC-induced reductions in P100 amplitude and divided attention task performance, while P300 amplitude reductions and stop signal task impairments occur in both groups. |
Abstract
Rationale: Experienced cannabis users demonstrate tolerance to some of the impairing acute effects of cannabis.
Objectives: The present study investigates whether event-related potentials (ERPs) differ between occasional and heavy cannabis users after acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration, as a result of tolerance.
Methods: Twelve occasional and 12 heavy cannabis users participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. On two separate days, they smoked a joint containing 0 or 500 μg/kg body weight THC. ERPs were measured while subjects performed a divided attention task (DAT) and stop signal task (SST).
Results: In the DAT, THC significantly decreased P100 amplitude in occasional but not in heavy cannabis users. P300 amplitude in the DAT was significantly decreased by THC in both groups. The N200 peak in the SST was not affected by treatment in neither of the groups. Performance in the SST was impaired in both groups after THC treatment, whereas performance in the DAT was impaired by THC only in the occasional users group.
Conclusions: The present study confirms that heavy cannabis users develop tolerance to some of the impairing behavioral effects of cannabis. This tolerance was also evident in the underlying ERPs, suggesting that tolerance demonstrated on performance level is not (completely) due to behavioral compensation.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment Healthy participants | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 48 |
| Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Healthy, English-native, right-handed men who had used cannabis 15 times or less in... | 2009 | Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial | n = 15 |
| Acute Effects of a Single, Oral dose of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) Administration in Healthy Volunteers Healthy male subjects | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 16 |
| Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Healthy, native English-speaking, right-handed men of white race/ethnicity who had used... | 2009 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 15 |
| Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition Healthy volunteers with a history of light cannabis use | 2019 | Randomized, double-blind, within-subjects crossover | n = 14 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Smoked Cannabis' Psychomotor and Neurocognitive Effects in Occasional and Frequent Smokers Journal of Analytical Toxicology March 4, 2015
- Effects of Cannabis on Impulsivity: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Findings Current Pharmaceutical Design May 10, 2014
- Cannabis and tolerance: acute drug impairment as a function of cannabis use history Scientific Reports May 26, 2016
- The acute effects of cannabis with and without cannabidiol in adults and adolescents: A randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover experiment Addiction February 8, 2023
- Psychotomimetic symptoms after a moderate dose of a synthetic cannabinoid (JWH-018): implications for psychosis Psychopharmacology January 26, 2021
and 17 more in the library
Cites 6
- Neurophysiological and subjective profile of marijuana with varying concentrations of cannabinoids Behavioural Pharmacology September 1, 2005
- Cannabis with high δ9-THC contents affects perception and visual selective attention acutely: an event-related potential study. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior July 2010
- Neurocognitive performance during acute THC intoxication in heavy and occasional cannabis users. Journal of Psychopharmacology May 2009
- Abnormal brain activity in prefrontal brain regions in abstinent marijuana users. Neuroimage November 2004
- Effects of acute smoked marijuana on complex cognitive performance. Neuropsychopharmacology November 2001
and 1 more in the library