Disrupted gamma-band neural oscillations during coherent motion perception in heavy cannabis users.
Patrick D. Skosnik, Giri P Krishnan, Deepak C D'Souza, William P Hetrick, Brian F O'Donnell
Neuropsychopharmacology December 2014 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.166 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 47 |
| Population | Chronic cannabis users (n = 24; 12 h abstinence before study; positive 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol urine levels) and cannabis-naive controls (n = 23) |
| Measures | Fourier-based mean trial power (MTP), visual N100 and P200 event-related potentials, Chapman Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Coherent motion robustly increased induced gamma power (40-59 Hz) relative to incoherent motion and static conditions. Cannabis users showed significant reductions in induced gamma power during coherent motion compared with controls, with no group differences in N100 or P200 components. Cannabis users showed a trend toward higher Chapman Perceptual Aberration Scale scores positively correlated with total years of active cannabis use, suggesting cannabis use may interfere with induced gamma oscillations that could partly mediate perceptual-altering effects. |
Abstract
Previous work in animals and humans has shown that exogenous cannabinoids disrupt time-locked, evoked gamma oscillations (30-80 Hz). However, no studies to date have examined the effect of cannabis on non-time-locked, induced gamma oscillations during more complex Gestalt perception. The current study therefore utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to examine gamma oscillations during coherent motion perception in heavy cannabis users and controls. Chronic cannabis users (n = 24; 12 h abstinence before study; positive 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol urine levels) and cannabis-naive controls (n = 23) were evaluated. Stimuli consisted of random dot kinetograms (RDKs) that subjects passively viewed during three different conditions: coherent motion, incoherent motion, and static. Time × frequency analysis on EEG data was performed using Fourier-based mean trial power (MTP). Transient event-related potentials (ERPs) to stimulus onset (visual N100 and P200 components) were also evaluated. The results showed that the coherent motion condition produced a robust increase in neural activity in the gamma range (induced power from 40 to 59 Hz) as compared with the incoherent motion and static conditions. As predicted, the cannabis group showed significant reductions in induced gamma power in the coherent condition relative to healthy controls. No differences were observed between the groups in the N100 or P200 components, indicating intact primary sensory processing. Finally, cannabis users showed a trend toward increased scores on the Chapman Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) that was positively correlated with total years of active cannabis use. These data suggest that cannabis use may interfere with the generation of induced gamma-band neural oscillations that could in part mediate the perceptual-altering effects of exogenous cannabinoids.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Attenuated frontal and sensory inputs to the basal ganglia in cannabis users Addiction Biology March 3, 2016
- Cannabinoids and Vanilloids in Schizophrenia: Neurophysiological Evidence and Directions for Basic Research Frontiers in Pharmacology June 21, 2017
- Cannabis, esquizofrenia y cognición, aportes de la conectividad cerebral Adicciones February 6, 2020
- Motion and form perception in healthy individuals with adolescent cannabis use Frontiers in Psychiatry August 17, 2026
- Prefrontal connectivity alterations and oscillatory dynamics in cannabis use disorder. Biological Psychology July 9, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 9
- The effect of chronic cannabinoids on broadband EEG neural oscillations in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology September 2012
- Reversible and regionally selective downregulation of brain cannabinoid CB1 receptors in chronic daily cannabis smokers Molecular Psychiatry July 12, 2011
- Sensory Gating Impairments in Heavy Cannabis Users are Associated with Altered Neural Oscillations Behavioral Neuroscience August 1, 2009
- Dynamic changes of the endogenous cannabinoid and opioid mesocorticolimbic systems during adolescence: THC effects. European Neuropsychopharmacology November 2008
- Blunted psychotomimetic and amnestic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in frequent users of cannabis. Neuropsychopharmacology September 2008
and 4 more in the library