The Role of Cannabis and The Endocannabinoid System in Sleep Regulation and Cognition: A Review of Human and Animal Studies.
Alannah Miranda, Elizabeth Peek, Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Jared W Young, William Perry, Arpi Minassian
Behavioral Sleep Medicine March 3, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2023.2232497 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The review reports that several human studies found no association between cannabis use and changes in sleep quality or cognitive function. However, THC alone decreased cognitive performance and increased daytime sleepiness, while CBD alone had no effect on sleep or cognition. Animal studies suggest that endocannabinoid system manipulation alters activity and cognition, sometimes depending on the light/dark cycle, and the authors argue that circadian modulation by this system remains critically understudied. |
Abstract
Both sleep and cognition are partially modulated by the endocannabinoid (ECB) system. Cannabis has been reported to have effects on sleep and cognition. This review aims to summarize the recent literature on the ECB system, the role of cannabis and the ECB system on sleep regulation and cognition. Further, this review will identify existing gaps in knowledge and suggest potential targets for future research. We performed this review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Reports were identified by searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for articles published through September 2021 for studies with data available on aspects of cognition, cannabis, or the ECB system, and sleep or circadian rhythms (CRs). We identified 6 human and 6 animal studies to be eligible for inclusion in this review. Several human studies found that cannabis use is not associated with changes in sleep quality or cognitive function. However, individual cannabinoids appeared to have independent effects on cognition and sleep; THC alone decreased cognitive performance and increased daytime sleepiness, whereas CBD alone had no effect on sleep or cognition. Animal studies demonstrated that manipulation of the ECB system altered activity and cognitive function, some of which appeared to be dependent on the light/dark cycle. The sleep-wake cycle and CRs are both likely modulated by the ECB system, potentially resulting in effects on cognition, however this area is critically understudied.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of cannabis use on outcomes of psychotic disorders: systematic review People with psychotic disorders, as examined in 13 longitudinal studies | 2008 | Systematic review | |
| The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognitive Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Existing Findings and New Data in a First-Episode Sample Patients with established schizophrenia (meta-analysis: 572) and patients with... | 2010 | Meta-analysis and cross-sectional observational study | n = 700 |
| Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature Cannabis users and controls in neuroimaging studies | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Healthy human subjects and individuals with schizophrenia | 2016 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Are adolescents more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cannabis than adults? A placebo-controlled study in human males Translational Psychiatry November 29, 2016
- Cannabis Use and Resting State Functional Connectivity in the Aging Brain Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience February 10, 2022
- An Observational, Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Medical Cannabis Patients over the Course of 12 Months of Treatment: Preliminary Results Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society July 1, 2021
- Adolescent cannabis use, cognition, brain health and educational outcomes: A review of the evidence. European Neuropsychopharmacology April 5, 2020
- Cannabis effects on brain structure, function, and cognition: considerations for medical uses of cannabis and its derivatives The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse July 31, 2019
and 2 more in the library