Effects of Marijuana Use on Brain Structure and Function: Neuroimaging Findings from a Neurodevelopmental Perspective.
Ty Brumback, Norma Castro, Joanna Jacobus, Susan F Tapert
International review of neurobiology 2016 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.06.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Adolescence Endocannabinoids Neurodevelopment |
| Key findings | The authors argue that marijuana use, particularly when initiated during childhood or adolescence, is associated with neurocognitive deficits, and that neuroimaging studies reveal structural and functional brain alterations that may underlie these effects. They propose future research to better delineate marijuana's effects on the developing brain and the mechanisms of potential long-term negative consequences. |
Abstract
Marijuana, behind only tobacco and alcohol, is the most popular recreational drug in America with prevalence rates of use rising over the past decade. A wide range of research has highlighted neurocognitive deficits associated with marijuana use, particularly when initiated during childhood or adolescence. Neuroimaging, describing alterations to brain structure and function, has begun to provide a picture of possible mechanisms associated with the deleterious effects of marijuana use. This chapter provides a neurodevelopmental framework from which recent data on brain structural and functional abnormalities associated with marijuana use is reviewed. Based on the current data, we provide aims for future studies to more clearly delineate the effects of marijuana on the developing brain and to define underlying mechanisms of the potential long-term negative consequences of marijuana use.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Chronic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in adolescent nonhuman primates: persistent abnormalities in economic demand and brain functional connectivity. Neuropsychopharmacology February 1, 2025
- Abnormal developmental of hippocampal subfields and amygdalar subnuclei volumes in young adults with heavy cannabis use: A three-year longitudinal study. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry January 10, 2025
- Chronic Cannabis users exhibit altered oscillatory dynamics and functional connectivity serving visuospatial processing. Journal of Psychopharmacology August 1, 2024
- Cognitive outcomes associated with long-term, regular, recreational cannabis use in adults: A meta-analysis. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology August 1, 2020
- Synergistic effects of marijuana abuse and HIV infection on neural activation during a cognitive interference task. Addiction Biology November 2019
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