Disrupted Resting State Attentional Network Connectivity in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users following Two-Weeks of Monitored Abstinence
Julia C. Harris, Alexander L. Wallace, Alicia M. Thomas, Hailey G. Wirtz, Christine M. Kaiver, Krista M. Lisdahl
Brain Sciences February 24, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020287 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional observational study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 75 |
| Population | Adolescent and young adult cannabis users and non-substance using controls aged 14–21 |
| Duration | Two weeks of monitored abstinence |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Adolescence Attentional networks Neuroimaging |
| Key findings | Regular cannabis use in adolescence and young adulthood is associated with reduced resting-state functional connectivity within the dorsal attention network, even after two weeks of monitored abstinence, and more severe cannabis use markers correlate with this reduced connectivity. |
Abstract
Background. Numerous neuropsychological studies have shown that cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood led to deficits in sustained and selective attention. However, few studies have examined functional connectivity in attentional networks among young cannabis users, nor have characterized relationships with cannabis use patterns following abstinence. Methods. Differences in resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) within the dorsal (DAN) and ventral (VAN) attention networks were examined in 36 adolescent and young adult cannabis users and 39 non-substance using controls following two weeks of monitored abstinence. Observed connectivity differences were then correlated with past-year and lifetime cannabis use, length of abstinence, age of regular use onset, and Cannabis Use Disorder symptoms (CUD). Results. After controlling for alcohol and nicotine use, cannabis users had lower RSFC within the DAN network, specifically between right inferior parietal sulcus and right anterior insula, as well as white matter, relative to controls. This region was associated with more severe cannabis use measures, including increased lifetime cannabis use, shorter length of abstinence, and more severe CUD symptoms. Conclusions. Findings demonstrate that regular cannabis use by adolescents and young adults is associated with subtle differences in resting state connectivity within the DAN, even after two weeks of monitored abstinence. Notably, more severe cannabis use markers (greater lifetime use, CUD symptoms, and shorter abstinence) were linked with this reduced connectivity. Thus, findings support public policy aimed at reducing and delaying cannabis use and treatments to assist with sustained abstinence. Future longitudinal studies are needed to investigate causation.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- What Do Thirty Years of Neuroimaging Research Tell Us About Recreational Cannabis Use and Brain Integrity? A Narrative Review of the Multimodal Neuroimaging Evidence to Date. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation 2026
- Network topology and cannabis use following two weeks of monitored abstinence: moderation of sex and patterns of use findings. Frontiers in adolescent medicine 2025
Cites 15
- Grey Matter Volume Differences Associated with Extremely Low Levels of Cannabis Use in Adolescence Journal of Neuroscience January 14, 2019
- Effects of Cannabis Use and Subclinical ADHD Symptomology on Attention Based Tasks in Adolescents and Young Adults Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology September 22, 2018
- Resting state functional connectivity in the default mode network: Relationships between cannabis use, gender, and cognition in adolescents and young adults NeuroImage: Clinical April 8, 2021
- Impact of Two-Weeks of Monitored Abstinence on Cognition in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society April 20, 2020
- Cannabis Use Linked to Altered Functional Connectivity of the Visual Attentional Connectivity in Patients With Psychosis and Controls Schizophrenia Bulletin Open 2020
and 10 more in the library