Impact of cannabis use on prefrontal and parietal cortex gyrification and surface area in adolescents and emerging adults.
Skyler G Shollenbarger, Jenessa Price, Jon Wieser, Krista M. Lisdahl
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience December 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.07.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 68 |
| Population | Youth aged 18-25, including 33 cannabis users and 35 controls, excluding those with co-morbid psychiatric/neurologic disorders or heavy other drug use |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Cognition Emerging adults Gyrification |
| Key findings | Cannabis use was associated with reduced prefrontal gyrification in ventral-medial, medial, and frontal pole regions, but not in dorsolateral, ventrolateral, or inferior parietal areas. Surface area was marginally reduced in left medial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Among users, greater gyrification in right medial, ventral-medial, and frontal pole regions correlated with better working-memory performance. |
Abstract
Regions undergoing maturation with CB1 receptors may be at increased risk for cannabis-induced alterations. Here, we examine the relationships between cannabis use and prefrontal (PFC) and inferior parietal gyrification and surface area (SA) in youth. Participants included 33 cannabis users and 35 controls (ages 18-25). Exclusions included co-morbid psychiatric/neurologic disorders and heavy other drug use. Multiple regressions and Pearson r correlations examined the effects of cannabis use on gyrification, SA and cognition. Cannabis use was associated with decreased gyrification in: ventral-medial PFC (RH: [FDR corrected p=.02], LH: [FDR corrected p=.02]); medial PFC (RH: [FDR corrected p=.02], LH: [FDR corrected p=.02]); and frontal poles (RH: [FDR corrected p=.02], LH: [FDR corrected p=.02]). No differences were observed in bilateral hemispheres, PFC, dorsolateral, ventrolateral, or inferior parietal ROIs. Cannabis use was associated with marginally decreased SA in left: medial PFC [FDR corrected p=.09], and ventral lateral PFC: [FDR corrected p=.09]. In cannabis users, increased gyrification was associated with improved working-memory performance in right medial (p=.003), ventral-medial (p=.03), and frontal pole ROIs (p=.007). Cannabis use was associated with reduced gyrification in PFC regions implicated in self-referential thought and social cognition. Results suggest that these gyrification characteristics may have cognitive implications.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effects of Cannabis Use on Neurocognition: A Scoping Review of MRI Studies Journal of Psychoactive Drugs June 29, 2024
- Systematic review of structural and functional neuroimaging studies of cannabis use in adolescence and emerging adulthood: evidence from 90 studies and 9441 participants. Neuropsychopharmacology April 2022
- Adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol alters the transcriptional trajectory and dendritic architecture of prefrontal pyramidal neurons. Molecular Psychiatry April 2019
Cites 7
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- The unique brain anatomy of meditation practitioners: alterations in cortical gyrification. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience February 29, 2012
- Reversible and regionally selective downregulation of brain cannabinoid CB1 receptors in chronic daily cannabis smokers Molecular Psychiatry July 12, 2011
- Altered prefrontal and insular cortical thickness in adolescent marijuana users. Behavioural Brain Research June 20, 2011
- Longitudinal study of cognition among adolescent marijuana users over three weeks of abstinence. Addictive Behaviors November 2010
and 2 more in the library