Abstract
This article reviews neuroimaging, neurocognitive, and preclinical findings on the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain. Marijuana is the second most widely used intoxicant in adolescence, and teens who engage in heavy marijuana use often show disadvantages in neurocognitive performance, macrostructural and microstructural brain development, and alterations in brain functioning. It remains unclear whether such disadvantages reflect pre-existing differences that lead to increased substances use and further changes in brain architecture and behavioral outcomes. Future work should focus on prospective investigations to help disentangle dose-dependent effects from pre-existing effects, and to better understand the interactive relationships with other commonly abused substances (e.g., alcohol) to better understand the role of regular cannabis use on neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Keywords: Adolescence, neuroimaging, cannabis, marijuana, alcohol, brain, cognition.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Effects of Cannabis on the Adolescent Brain
Volume: 20 Issue: 13
Author(s): Joanna Jacobus and Susan F. Tapert
Affiliation:
Keywords: Adolescence, neuroimaging, cannabis, marijuana, alcohol, brain, cognition.
Abstract: This article reviews neuroimaging, neurocognitive, and preclinical findings on the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain. Marijuana is the second most widely used intoxicant in adolescence, and teens who engage in heavy marijuana use often show disadvantages in neurocognitive performance, macrostructural and microstructural brain development, and alterations in brain functioning. It remains unclear whether such disadvantages reflect pre-existing differences that lead to increased substances use and further changes in brain architecture and behavioral outcomes. Future work should focus on prospective investigations to help disentangle dose-dependent effects from pre-existing effects, and to better understand the interactive relationships with other commonly abused substances (e.g., alcohol) to better understand the role of regular cannabis use on neurodevelopmental trajectories.
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Cite this article as:
Jacobus Joanna and Tapert F. Susan, Effects of Cannabis on the Adolescent Brain, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (13) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990426
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990426 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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