Daily cannabis use in adolescents who smoke tobacco is associated with altered late-stage feedback processing: A high-density electrical mapping study
K. Morie, Jia Wu, Marc N Potenza, S. Krishnan-Sarin, Linda C Mayes, C. Hammond, Michael J Crowley
Journal of Psychiatric Research May 23, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.022 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 66 |
| Population | Adolescents who smoke cigarettes daily and use cannabis daily (n=21), smoke cigarettes daily and use cannabis occasionally (n=18), and non-smoking adolescents (n=27) |
| Measures | Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), EEG feedback-related-negativity (FRN), P300 |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Adolescents who used tobacco and cannabis daily had higher Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) scores, shortened feedback-related-negativity (FRN) latencies, and reduced P300 amplitudes compared with occasional-cannabis and non-smoking peers. Shorter FRN latencies during win conditions were inversely associated with nicotine dependence (FTND scores) and with impulsivity (BIS-11 scores). The authors state that future work should disentangle whether these effects reflect pre-existing risk, consequences of use, or both. |
Abstract
Impairments in feedback processing, often associated with risk-taking behavior, may have implications for development of substance abuse in adolescents. The most commonly used substances by adolescents include tobacco and cannabis, with some individuals using both substances, potentially heightening risk. Our objective was to examine feedback processing and impulsivity in adolescents who smoke cigarettes and use cannabis daily (N = 21), comparing them with adolescents who smoke cigarettes daily and use cannabis occasionally (N = 18) and non-smoking (N = 27) adolescents. To do this, the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) with concurrent EEG was used to measure risk- related feedback processing, and impulsivity was measured using the Barratt’s impulsiveness scale (BIS-11). It was found that adolescent daily tobacco/cannabis smoking was associated with higher BIS-11 scores, shortened feedback-related-negativity (FRN) latencies and reduced P300 amplitudes. In addition, FRN latencies during win conditions were inversely associated with tobacco-use severity, indicated by scores on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and with BIS-11 scores. Adolescents with daily tobacco and daily cannabis use show altered feedback processing and higher impulsivity. Future work should disentangle whether the effect reflects risk, consequences of use or both.
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 |