Cannabis with high δ9-THC contents affects perception and visual selective attention acutely: an event-related potential study.
Koen B E Böcker, J Gerritsen, Claudine C Hunault, M Kruidenier, Tj T Mensinga, J L Kenemans
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior July 2010 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2010.04.008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Participants who smoked cannabis cigarettes (likely healthy adults, but not specified) |
| Dose | up to 69.4 mg THC (four doses, placebo included) |
| Duration | Four test days; ERP and performance measured 2 hours after exposure |
| Measures | Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), Occipital Selection Negativity, P300 component |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key points | THC exposure up to 69.4 mg decreased task accuracy linearly and increased reaction times linearly, while most attention-related ERP components showed no significant dose effects; only perceptual processing components and P300 amplitude decreased, with the former showing a linear dose-response. The authors argue this reflects a non-selective reduction in attentional resources. |
Abstract
Cannabis intake has been reported to affect cognitive functions such as selective attention. This study addressed the effects of exposure to cannabis with up to 69.4mg Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) recorded during a visual selective attention task. Twenty-four participants smoked cannabis cigarettes with four doses of THC on four test days in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Two hours after THC exposure the participants performed a visual selective attention task and concomitant ERPs were recorded. Accuracy decreased linearly and reaction times increased linearly with THC dose. However, performance measures and most of the ERP components related specifically to selective attention did not show significant dose effects. Only in relatively light cannabis users the Occipital Selection Negativity decreased linearly with dose. Furthermore, ERP components reflecting perceptual processing, as well as the P300 component, decreased in amplitude after THC exposure. Only the former effect showed a linear dose-response relation. The decrements in performance and ERP amplitudes induced by exposure to cannabis with high THC content resulted from a non-selective decrease in attentional or processing resources. Performance requiring attentional resources, such as vehicle control, may be compromised several hours after smoking cannabis cigarettes containing high doses of THC, as presently available in Europe and Northern America.
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 15
- Traditional marijuana, high‐potency cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids: increasing risk for psychosis World Psychiatry September 22, 2016
- Neurophysiological functioning of occasional and heavy cannabis users during THC intoxication Psychopharmacology October 5, 2011
- Not Just a Pot: Visual Episodic Memory in Cannabis Users and Polydrug Cannabis Users: ROC and ERP Preliminary Investigation Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 11, 2021
- Identifying EEG markers related to acute cannabis consumption: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 1, 2025
- Cognitive Effects of Cannabis Use: A Comprehensive Review Across Domains Neurology International July 1, 2025
and 10 more in the library
Cites 13
- Neurophysiological and subjective profile of marijuana with varying concentrations of cannabinoids Behavioural Pharmacology September 1, 2005
- Effect of intrapulmonary tetrahydrocannabinol administration in humans. Journal of Psychopharmacology September 2008
- Blunted psychotomimetic and amnestic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in frequent users of cannabis. Neuropsychopharmacology September 2008
- Disturbances of visual information processing in early states of psychosis and experimental delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol altered states of consciousness. Schizophrenia Research December 1, 2006
- The effect of cannabis use and gender on the visual steady state evoked potential. Clinical Neurophysiology January 2006
and 8 more in the library