Functional imaging studies in cannabis users.
Linda Chang, Edward P Chronicle
The Neuroscientist October 2007 DOI: 10.1177/1073858406296601 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The review concludes that acute THC administration increases activation in frontal and paralimbic regions and the cerebellum, consistent with the drug's behavioral effects, while evidence for structural brain changes with chronic use is equivocal. Chronic users consistently show functional neuroadaptation in networks for higher cognitive functions, though reversibility with abstinence is uncertain. The authors argue that longitudinal studies and research on adolescent brain development are needed. |
Abstract
Cannabis remains the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. This update examines the available literature on neuroimaging studies of the brains of cannabis users. The majority of studies examining the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration used PET methods and concluded that administration of THC leads to increased activation in frontal and paralimbic regions and the cerebellum. These increases in activation are broadly consistent with the behavioral effects of the drug. Although there is only equivocal evidence that chronic cannabis use might result in structural brain changes, blood-oxygenation-level-dependent-fMRI studies in chronic users consistently show alterations, or neuroadaptation, in the activation of brain networks responsible for higher cognitive functions. It is not yet certain whether these changes are reversible with abstinence. Given the high prevalence of cannabis use among adolescents, studies are needed to evaluate whether cannabis use might affect the developing brain. Considerable further work, employing longitudinal designs, is also required to determine whether cannabis use causes permanent functional alterations in the brains of adults.
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 20
- Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature Psychological Medicine July 23, 2009
- Effects of Cannabis on Impulsivity: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Findings Current Pharmaceutical Design May 10, 2014
- The effect of cannabis on the brain: can it cause brain anomalies that lead to increased risk for schizophrenia? Current Opinion in Psychiatry March 1, 2008
- Evidence for involvement of the insula in the psychotropic effects of THC in humans: a double-blind, randomized pharmacological MRI study The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology April 14, 2011
- Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity: a systematic review. Mol Med December 19, 2024
and 15 more in the library
Cites 10
- Neurophysiological and subjective profile of marijuana with varying concentrations of cannabinoids Behavioural Pharmacology September 1, 2005
- Marijuana use is associated with a reorganized visual-attention network and cerebellar hypoactivation. Brain May 2006
- Neuroimaging of marijuana smokers during inhibitory processing: a pilot investigation. Brain research. Cognitive brain research April 2005
- Altered brain tissue composition in heavy marijuana users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence January 7, 2005
- Marijuana alters the human cerebellar clock. Neuroreport June 11, 2003
and 5 more in the library