Abstract
Heavy exposure to cannabis during adolescence can cause significant neurocognitive changes. It can alter emotional responsiveness and social behavior, and cause impairments in sustained attention, learning, working memory (WM), cognitive flexibility, and the speed of information processing. It also has a significant impact on executive functions. In this study we investigated how global cognitive functions can be affected by the frequency of cannabinoid consumption in different categories of consumers (chronic, occasional, and non-users), through the evaluation of executive functions. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in performance in working memory tasks and processing speed by subjects using cannabis chronically (group 1) as compared to non-consumers (group 3), and occasional consumers (group 2). Future studies could verify the extent of neurocognitive alterations through re-evaluations with controlled follow-up and the addition of neuro-functional data.
Highlights
We compared the weighted scores of the groups to the indices (VCI, perceptual reasoning index (PRI), working memory index (WMI), processing speed index (PSI), intellectual quotient (IQ)) that emerged from the WISC-IV and the scores that emerged from the Tower of London (ToL) and Corsi sub-tests through the use of the analysis of variance test (ANOVA), a parametric test that allows for the comparison two or more data groups by comparing the variability within these groups with the variability between groups
The comparison between the three groups regarding the WISC-IV showed a significant effect of the group on the following indices: verbal comprehension index (VCI) (F (2, 299) = 9.968, p < 0.05), PRI (F (2, 299) = 12.588, p < 0.05), WMI (F (2, 299) = 314.113, p < 0.05), PSI (F (2, 299) = 47.539, p < 0.05), and IQ (F (2, 299) = 119.343, p < 0.05)
Considering that the socio-cultural class of the selected adolescents was medium–high, the number of recruited subjects, and the strong significance of our data, our data suggest a significant impact between chronic use of cannabinoids and a reduction in the efficiency of working memory and processing speed
Summary
Brain areas involved in this process are activated by new and exciting stimuli, as well as risky situations such as the abuse of alcohol, nicotine, and other substances that activate a complex, phylogenetically ancient brain circuit that plays a critical role in the search for the natural gratification essential for survival. This circuit is composed of the nucleus accumbens and the dopaminergic neurotransmission system, which is involved in craving phenomena [6]. The data available to date indicate that chronic cannabis use in adolescence can permanently modify some neuronal circuits in specific brain areas, and that such modifications could increase the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders in adulthood [10,11]
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