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Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals distinct brain activity in heavy cannabis users - a multi-voxel pattern analysis.

H Cheng, Patrick D. Skosnik, Ben J Pruce, Margaret S Brumbaugh, Jennifer M Vollmer, Daniel J Fridberg, Brian F O'Donnell, William P Hetrick, Sharlene D. Newman

Journal of Psychopharmacology November 2014 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114550354 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case-control classification study using multi-voxel pattern analysis Peer reviewed
Population Male cannabis users and normal controls
Measures Barrett Impulsiveness Scale
Topics Cannabis
Keywords Multi-voxel pattern analysis
Key findings The authors report that male cannabis users could be classified from controls with 84-88% accuracy based on resting state functional connectivity of clusters spanning the cerebellum to the prefrontal cortex, and that classification accuracy correlated highly with Barrett Impulsiveness Scale attention and motor factor scores. They suggest these regional differences in brain connectivity accompany chronic cannabis use.

Abstract

Chronic cannabis use can cause cognitive, perceptual and personality alterations, which are believed to be associated with regional brain changes and possible changes in connectivity between functional regions. This study aims to identify the changes from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. A two-level multi-voxel pattern analysis was proposed to classify male cannabis users from normal controls. The first level analysis works on a voxel basis and identifies clusters for the input of a second level analysis, which works on the functional connectivity between these regions. We found distinct clusters for male cannabis users in the middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, cerebellum and some other regions. Based on the functional connectivity of these clusters, a high overall accuracy rate of 84-88% in classification accuracy was achieved. High correlations were also found between the overall classification accuracy and Barrett Barrett Impulsiveness Scale factor scores of attention and motor. Our result suggests regional differences in the brains of male cannabis users that span from the cerebellum to the prefrontal cortex, which are associated with differences in functional connectivity.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population 2009 Case-control study n = 454
Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population 2013 Observational study
Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people 2000 Observational
Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline 2011 Observational cohort n = 1,923
Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... 2005 Observational cohort n = 535

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