Abstract
BackgroundCannabis use is associated with an attention-dependent deficit in prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI). The aim of the current study was to investigate startle habituation in cannabis users and healthy controls during two attentional tasks.MethodsAuditory startle reflex was recorded from orbicularis oculi muscle while participants (12 controls and 16 regular cannabis users) were either attending to or ignoring 100 dB startling pulses. Startle habituation was measured as the absolute reduction in startle magnitude on block 2 (last nine trials) vs. block 1 (first nine trials).ResultsStartle habituation with moderate effect sizes was observed in controls and cannabis users only while they were ignoring the startling pulses but not while they were attending to them. Similar results were also observed in controls (lifetime non-users of cannabis) and cannabis users with lifetime cannabis use disorders (CUD).ConclusionStartle habituation appears to depend on selective attention but not on cannabis use. Startle habituation was present when attention was directed away from auditory startling pulses in healthy controls and cannabis users. Such a similar pattern of results in both groups suggests that at least a trend exists towards presence of startle habituation regardless of cannabis use or CUD in otherwise healthy members of the general population.
Highlights
Cannabis use is associated with an attention-dependent deficit in prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI)
Startle habituation: controls vs. cannabis users According to aim 1 of the current study, startle habituation was investigated in cannabis users relative to controls during two attentional tasks
Startle habituation: controls vs. cannabis users with cannabis use disorders (CUD) According to aim 2 of the current study, startle habituation was investigated in cannabis users with lifetime CUD relative to controls during two attentional tasks
Summary
Cannabis use is associated with an attention-dependent deficit in prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI). It has been shown that early onset and heavy cannabis use is related to earlier onset and higher odds for psychosis and is especially prevalent in younger, male, first-episode patients with schizophrenia [5,6,7,8]. Regardless of such extensive research, the physiological bases of the relationship between cannabis use and Sensorimotor gating appears to be affected by psychosis and cannabis use. Schizophrenia studies have shown that, relative to healthy controls, PPI deficit was observed either during passive (no task) paradigms
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