Dose-dependent effects of cannabis on the neural correlates of error monitoring in frequent cannabis users.
Mikael A Kowal, Henk Van Steenbergen, Lorenza S. Colzato, Arno Hazekamp, Nic J.A. van der Wee, Meriem Manai, Jeffrey Durieux, Bernhard Hommel
European Neuropsychopharmacology November 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.08.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized, double-blind, between-groups experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 55 |
| Population | Frequent cannabis users who used cannabis at least 4 times per week for at least 2 years |
| Dose | 5.5 mg THC (low dose), 22 mg THC (high dose) |
| Measures | error-related negativity (ERN), error positivity (Pe) |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Error monitoring Error positivity Error-related negativity |
| Key findings | High-dose vaporized cannabis (22 mg THC) significantly diminished the error-related negativity (ERN) compared with placebo, while both high (22 mg THC) and low (5.5 mg THC) doses reduced the error positivity (Pe) amplitude. The authors suggest that high-dose cannabis affects both early automatic and later conscious error-monitoring processes, whereas low-dose cannabis may impact only the later conscious processing of errors. |
Abstract
Cannabis has been suggested to impair the capacity to recognize discrepancies between expected and executed actions. However, there is a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the acute impact of cannabis on the neural correlates of error monitoring. In order to contribute to the available knowledge, we used a randomized, double-blind, between-groups design to investigate the impact of administration of a low (5.5 mg THC) or high (22 mg THC) dose of vaporized cannabis vs. placebo on the amplitudes of the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) in the context of the Flanker task, in a group of frequent cannabis users (required to use cannabis minimally 4 times a week, for at least 2 years). Subjects in the high dose group (n=18) demonstrated a significantly diminished ERN in comparison to the placebo condition (n=19), whereas a reduced Pe amplitude was observed in both the high and low dose (n=18) conditions, as compared to placebo. The results suggest that a high dose of cannabis may affect the neural correlates of both the conscious (late), as well as the initial automatic processes involved in error monitoring, while a low dose of cannabis might impact only the conscious (late) processing of errors.
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 5
- Identifying EEG markers related to acute cannabis consumption: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 1, 2025
- Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairs visual working memory performance: a randomized crossover trial. Neuropsychopharmacology October 1, 2020
- Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairs visual working memory performance: A randomized crossover trial bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) September 23, 2019
- Experimental and observational evidence on substance use and metacognition among adults: a systematic review. Addictive Behaviors August 1, 2026
- Acute effects of partial CB1 receptor agonists on cognition - A meta-analysis of human studies. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry August 10, 2020
Cites 12
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- Dopamine release in chronic cannabis users: a [11c]raclopride positron emission tomography study. Biological Psychiatry April 15, 2012
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