Neuroimaging meta-analysis of cannabis use studies reveals convergent functional alterations in brain regions supporting cognitive control and reward processing.
Julio A Yanes, Michael C Riedel, Kimberly L Ray, Anna E Kirkland, Ryan T Bird, Emily R Boeving, Meredith A Reid, Raul Gonzalez, Jennifer L Robinson, Angela R. Laird, Matthew T Sutherland
Journal of Psychopharmacology March 2018 DOI: 10.1177/0269881117744995 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Cannabis users versus non-users across published functional neuroimaging studies |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Anterior cingulate cortex Cognitive control Pain Reward processing Striatum |
| Key findings | Across neuroimaging studies, cannabis users showed decreased activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, regions linked to cognitive control and attention, and increased activation in the striatum, linked to reward processing, compared with non-users. The authors indicate these meta-analytic outcomes suggest cannabis use is linked with differential, region-specific effects across the brain. |
Abstract
Lagging behind rapid changes to state laws, societal views, and medical practice is the scientific investigation of cannabis's impact on the human brain. While several brain imaging studies have contributed important insight into neurobiological alterations linked with cannabis use, our understanding remains limited. Here, we sought to delineate those brain regions that consistently demonstrate functional alterations among cannabis users versus non-users across neuroimaging studies using the activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis framework. In ancillary analyses, we characterized task-related brain networks that co-activate with cannabis-affected regions using data archived in a large neuroimaging repository, and then determined which psychological processes may be disrupted via functional decoding techniques. When considering convergent alterations among users, decreased activation was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex, which co-activated with frontal, parietal, and limbic areas and was linked with cognitive control processes. Similarly, decreased activation was observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which co-activated with frontal and occipital areas and linked with attention-related processes. Conversely, increased activation among users was observed in the striatum, which co-activated with frontal, parietal, and other limbic areas and linked with reward processing. These meta-analytic outcomes indicate that cannabis use is linked with differential, region-specific effects across the brain.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of cannabis use on outcomes of psychotic disorders: systematic review People with psychotic disorders, as examined in 13 longitudinal studies | 2008 | Systematic review | |
| The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognitive Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Existing Findings and New Data in a First-Episode Sample Patients with established schizophrenia (meta-analysis: 572) and patients with... | 2010 | Meta-analysis and cross-sectional observational study | n = 700 |
| Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature Cannabis users and controls in neuroimaging studies | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Healthy human subjects and individuals with schizophrenia | 2016 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies Pharmacology & Therapeutics October 20, 2018
- Shifted balance of dorsal versus ventral striatal communication with frontal reward and regulatory regions in cannabis‐dependent males Human Brain Mapping September 12, 2018
- Same dose, different impact: acute cannabis intoxication impairs visuospatial working memory in both sexes, with disproportionate male vulnerability Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience April 16, 2026
- Chronic cannabis use is associated with alterations in resting-state cerebellar-cortical connectivity. Psychopharmacology December 12, 2025
- Is resting-state functional connectivity altered in regular cannabis users? A systematic review of the literature. Psychopharmacology May 2022
and 4 more in the library
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