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Resting state functional connectivity in dependent cannabis users: the moderating role of cannabis attitudes

Emese Kroon, Yara J Toenders, Lauren Kuhns, Janna Cousijn, Francesca Filbey

preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/t2c6w (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cross-sectional
Sample size 189
Population Near-daily dependent cannabis users and controls from The Netherlands and Texas, USA
Topics Cannabis
Key findings Resting-state functional connectivity within the dorsal salience network was lower in cannabis users than controls and was negatively associated with cannabis use in the cannabis group; cultural attitudes moderated associations of cannabis use, CUD symptoms, and cannabis-related problems with connectivity in salience, executive control, and default mode networks.

Abstract

Background. The global increase in lenient cannabis policy has been paralleled by reduced harm perception, which has been associated with cannabis use initiation and persistent use. However, it is unclear how cultural attitudes towards cannabis use might affect the brain processes underlying cannabis use. Methods. Resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) within and between the executive control network, salience network, and default mode network was assessed in 110 near-daily dependent cannabis users and 79 controls from The Netherlands and Texas, USA. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing the perceived benefits and harms of cannabis use from their personal, friends-family’s and country-state’s perspective and reported on their cannabis use (gram/week), DSM-5 cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, and cannabis related problems. Results. RSFC within the dorsal salience network was lower in cannabis users than controls and was negatively associated with cannabis use in the cannabis group. Cultural attitudes – from personal, friends-family’s and country-state’s perspectives – moderated the associations of cannabis use, CUD symptoms, and cannabis use related problems with RSFC within the salience, executive control, and default mode networks. No group differences in between-network RSFC were observed, but personal perceived benefits and country-state perceived harms moderated the association between CUD symptoms and RSFC between the dorsal and ventral default mode network. Conclusions. This study highlights the importance of considering individual differences in the perceived harms and benefits of cannabis use as a factor in the associations between brain functioning and cannabis use, CUD symptoms, and cannabis use related problems.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... 2011 Observational cross-sectional study n = 148
Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students 2006 Cross-sectional survey n = 149
Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents 2020 Cross-sectional survey
User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire 2010 Cross-sectional survey n = 600
Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... 2012 Cross-sectional survey n = 337

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