Abstract
We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on impulsivity, disinhibition and motor control. The review had a specific focus on neuroimaging findings associated with acute and chronic use of the drug and covers literature published up until May 2012. Seventeen studies were identified, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria; three studies investigated acute effects of cannabis (1 fMRI, 2 PET), while six studies investigated non-acute functional effects (4 fMRI, 2 PET), and four studies investigated structural alterations. Functional imaging studies of impulsivity studies suggest that prefrontal blood flow is lower in chronic cannabis users than in controls. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased brain metabolism in several brain regions during impulsivity tasks. Structural imaging studies of cannabis users found differences in reduced prefrontal volumes and white matter integrity that might mediate the abnormal impulsivity and mood observed in marijuana users. To address the question whether impulsivity as a trait precedes cannabis consumption or whether cannabis aggravates impulsivity and discontinuation of usage more longitudinal study designs are warranted.
Keywords: Cannabis, marijuana, cannabinoids, impulsivity, inhibition, neuroimaging, magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, fMRI.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Effects of Cannabis on Impulsivity: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Findings
Volume: 20 Issue: 13
Author(s): Johannes Wrege, Andre Schmidt, Anna Walter, Renata Smieskova, Kerstin Bendfeldt, Ernst-Wilhelm Radue, Undine E. Lang and Stefan Borgwardt
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cannabis, marijuana, cannabinoids, impulsivity, inhibition, neuroimaging, magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, fMRI.
Abstract: We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on impulsivity, disinhibition and motor control. The review had a specific focus on neuroimaging findings associated with acute and chronic use of the drug and covers literature published up until May 2012. Seventeen studies were identified, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria; three studies investigated acute effects of cannabis (1 fMRI, 2 PET), while six studies investigated non-acute functional effects (4 fMRI, 2 PET), and four studies investigated structural alterations. Functional imaging studies of impulsivity studies suggest that prefrontal blood flow is lower in chronic cannabis users than in controls. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased brain metabolism in several brain regions during impulsivity tasks. Structural imaging studies of cannabis users found differences in reduced prefrontal volumes and white matter integrity that might mediate the abnormal impulsivity and mood observed in marijuana users. To address the question whether impulsivity as a trait precedes cannabis consumption or whether cannabis aggravates impulsivity and discontinuation of usage more longitudinal study designs are warranted.
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Wrege Johannes, Schmidt Andre, Walter Anna, Smieskova Renata, Bendfeldt Kerstin, Radue Ernst-Wilhelm, Lang E. Undine and Borgwardt Stefan, Effects of Cannabis on Impulsivity: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Findings, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (13) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990428
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990428 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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