Investigating the Residual Effects of Chronic Cannabis Use and Abstinence on Verbal and Visuospatial Learning
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15516914 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Valentina Lorenzetti (0000-0002-5917-7068, Australian Catholic University, corresponding author), Michael Takagi (0000-0003-2903-7598, Murdoch Children's Research Institute), Yvonne van Dalen (University of Amsterdam), Murat Yücel (0000-0002-4705-452X, Monash University), Nadia Solowij (0000-0002-5222-5637, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Pages | 663701-663701 |
| Publication date | 2021-06-17 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.663701 |
| PMID | 34220577 |
| OpenAlex | W3176930434 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 70 |
Rationale: Regular cannabis users have been shown to differ from non-using controls in learning performance. It is unclear if these differences are specific to distinct domains of learning (verbal, visuospatial), exacerbate with extent of cannabis exposure and dissipate with sustained abstinence. Objective: This study examines different domains of learning (verbal, visuospatial) in current and abstaining cannabis users, and the role of chronicity of use. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, we examined 127 psychiatrically healthy participants (65 female) with mean aged of 34 years. Of these, 69 individuals were current regular cannabis users (mean 15 years use), 12 were former cannabis users abstinent for ~2.5 yrs (after a mean of 16 years use), and 46 were non-cannabis using controls. Groups were compared on verbal learning performance assessed via the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II) and for visuospatial learning measured with the Brown Location Test (BLT). We explored the association between CVLT/BLT performance and cannabis use levels in current and former users. Results: Current cannabis use compared to non-use was associated with worse performance on select aspects of verbal learning ( Long Delay Cued Recall ) and of visuospatial learning ( Retroactive Interference and LD Rotated Recall ). Prolonged abstinence was associated with altered verbal learning but intact visuospatial learning. There were non-significant correlations between distinct cannabis use measures, age and learning in both current and former users. Conclusions: Our findings suggest cannabis use status (current use, former use) affects different domains of learning (verbal and visuospatial) in a distinct fashion. These findings might be accounted for in the design of cognitive interventions aimed to support abstinence in cannabis users
Abstinence · Audiology · California Verbal Learning Test · Cannabis · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Effects of cannabis · Psychiatry · Recall · Verbal learning · Verbal memory · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife
Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use
Timeline Follow-Back
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Audit)
Cannabis use and mental health in young people
State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory
Age-Related Differences in Control Processes in Verbal and Visuospatial Working Memory
| Highly cited | No |
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