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Publication Detail

Title: Impact of cannabis use on prefrontal and parietal cortex gyrification and surface area in adolescents and emerging adults.

Authors: Shollenbarger, Skyler G; Price, Jenessa; Wieser, Jon; Lisdahl, Krista

Published In Dev Cogn Neurosci, (2015 Dec)

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.

PubMed ID: 26233614 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adolescent; Adult; Cognition/drug effects; Female; Functional Laterality; Gyrus Cinguli/drug effects*; Gyrus Cinguli/growth & development*; Gyrus Cinguli/pathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Marijuana Abuse/pathology*; Memory, Short-Term/drug effects; Neuropsychological Tests; Parietal Lobe/drug effects*; Parietal Lobe/growth & development*; Parietal Lobe/pathology; Prefrontal Cortex/drug effects*; Prefrontal Cortex/growth & development*; Prefrontal Cortex/pathology; Psychomotor Performance/drug effects; Self Report; Social Perception; Young Adult

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Last Reviewed: October 02, 2024