Researchers find no difference in brain connectivity between adult and adolescent cannabis users

[Simple Jack]

Cannabis use has been linked to a disruption in the brain's executive control network, according to a new research

A recent paper in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has demonstrated that cannabis use is associated with changes in the executive control network, which is located in the adolescent and adult cannabis users. This contradicts the notion that adolescents might be more affected by the substance in this particular brain network.

'Cannabis use is widespread among adults and adolescents, and there is a lot of conflicting evidence about the relative harms and safety of regular marijuana use,' says study author Natalie Ertl, a clinical imaging research scientist at Invicro and a PhD student at Imperial College London. 'We wanted to investigate how regular marijuana use might disproportionately affect brain networks in this group,' says the study author.

A common method used to study brain function is resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). RSNs are brain regions that perform a synchronized task even when an individual is not engaged in a particular activity.

The researchers wanted to see if there are differences between individuals who regularly use cannabis and those who do not (controls). Previous research had focused on differences in brain function, and this study sought to clarify them in the context of specific RSNs, such as the default mode network, the executive control network, and the salience network.

Ertl and her colleagues performed a cross-sectional analysis of rs-fMRI data collected as part of the "CannTeen" experiment. Participants underwent an MRI session that included a resting state scan.

The participants were randomly assigned to a group consisting of adolescent cannabis users, adult cannabis users, and adolescents non-using controls, as well as online advertisements in the Greater London area. The collected data included information on drug history, risk-taking behavior, and depression symptoms.

A review of the research indicates that adolescents and adults have different connectivity levels than adults. Except for the salience network, where adolescents have relatively higher connectivity.

Ertl said he was unsure if the difference would protect or make adolescent users more vulnerable. "We were surprised to discover there was no difference between the two age groups."

However, the researchers observed differences in connectivity within the executive control network, where cannabis users exhibited greater connectivity compared to controls. This may be due to compensatory mechanisms or functional modifications due to cannabis use.

“We expected to see a difference in the executive control network, which is involved in attention and high-level task performance,” Ertl explained. “The network that is most active at rest is the default mode network, so we were probably expecting to see a difference in that network.”

In the other networks tested, there were no significant differences in cannabis use frequency and network connectivity, highlighting that the relationship between cannabis use and brain connectivity is complex and may not be solely determined by frequency of use.

Overall, the findings demonstrate that "constant cannabis may affect attention pathways and high-level task performance," but that its effects on adolescents appear to be similar to those of adults.

The research provides valuable insights into the connection between cannabis use and resting-state functional connectivity in the brain. However, due to the complexity of the brain and the variability of individual responses to cannabis use, further investigation is required to fully understand the effect of cannabis on brain networks.

"Close-sectional data shows a relationship but not causality," Ertl explained. In addition, "our group of users were considered regular cannabis users but not heavy users," so perhaps our findings cannot be extended to problematic users.

Cannabis is more readily accessible to adolescents than alcohol as dealers are under no obligation to check ID, according to Ertl.

Natalie Ertl, Will Lawn, Claire Mokrysz, Tom P. Freeman, Anna Borissova, Natalia Fernandez-Vinson, Rachel Lees, Shelan Ofori, Kat Petrilli, Essi Viding, and Matthew B. Wall co-authored the study.

 

https://list23.com/3515833-cannabis-use-has-been-linked-to-a-disruption-in-the-brain-s-executive-control-network-according-to-a/

[Cursed]

I wish they’d link to the actual study.

Edited August 26, 2023 by Cursed

[latigid aikon]

@CursedThis is it I think https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.24.505069v1

[Simple Jack]

Or here https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811231189441

 

The full study is paywalled

 

As ever, the media have given this the most negative spin possible. Increased connectivity might be disruptive, though the authors do not argue this.

 

Better article here: https://www.psypost.org/2023/08/cannabis-use-linked-to-altered-connectivity-in-brains-executive-control-network-study-finds-168232

Edited August 26, 2023 by Simple Jack
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