Acute effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on computational measures of neurocognitive processes are related to recent cannabis use among adolescents and young adults.
K J Paige, A S Weigard, Olusola Ajilore, K L Phan, Harriet de Wit, Heide Klumpp, Natania A. Crane
Frontiers in adolescent medicine 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fradm.2025.1541068 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Healthy late adolescent and young adult occasional to regular cannabis users (ages 18-25, 53% men) |
| Intervention | delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) |
| Dose | 7.5 mg, oral |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | THC did not significantly alter any neurocognitive parameter overall, but it weakened cognitive efficiency more in participants with less cannabis use history and in those reporting stronger subjective drug effects. |
Abstract
Cannabis and its main psychoactive constituent, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are thought to weaken neurocognitive processes. However, past experimental research examining the acute effects of THC on neurocognition has produced mixed results. The current study aims to advance this literature through application of computational modeling and consideration of individual differences in cannabis use history and subjective drug effects. In a double-blind THC administration experiment, N = 30 healthy late adolescent and young adult occasional to regular cannabis users (53% men; ages 18-25) received THC (7.5mg, oral) and placebo. They completed a Go/No Go (GNG) task at the time of peak drug effect. We analyzed GNG data using the drift diffusion model, which provides measures of effects of THC on three components of neurocognition: cognitive efficiency (drift rate), response caution (boundary separation), and motor response execution processes (non-decision time). Bayesian statistical methods were used to assess relations between individuals' neurocognitive parameter differences across the experimental conditions (THC - placebo) and several relevant covariates (cannabis use history and subjective drug effects). Overall, THC versus placebo did not significantly alter any parameter. However, THC was associated with greater between-person variability in both drift rate and nondecision time, suggesting heterogeneity in the effects of the drug. THC weakened cognitive efficiency (slower drift rates) to a greater extent in participants with less cannabis use. Further, stronger subjective effects (drug "effect" and drug "high") were related to poorer cognitive efficiency during THC intoxication. Results add to our understanding of the acute neurocognitive effects of THC. Slower cognitive efficiency after THC was highly heterogeneous, and was related to both recent cannabis use and subjective drug effects. These findings support the notion that acute effects of cannabis on cognitive efficiency (GNG drift rate) are reduced by individuals' tolerance to cannabis.
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
Cites 7
- Single doses of THC and cocaine decrease proficiency of impulse control in heavy cannabis users British Journal of Pharmacology October 11, 2013
- Impairment of inhibitory control processing related to acute psychotomimetic effects of cannabis. European Neuropsychopharmacology January 2015
- Neurocognitive performance during acute THC intoxication in heavy and occasional cannabis users. Journal of Psychopharmacology May 2009
- Neural basis of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol: effects during response inhibition. Biological Psychiatry December 1, 2008
- A study investigating the acute dose-response effects of 13 mg and 17 mg Delta 9- tetrahydrocannabinol on cognitive-motor skills, subjective and autonomic measures in regular users of marijuana. Journal of Psychopharmacology June 2008
and 2 more in the library