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posted by chromas on Friday June 21 2019, @08:48PM   Printer-friendly
from the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaFh71YwZ4Y dept.

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

Early and regular cannabis use by youth is associated with alteration in brain circuits that support cognitive control

The development of neural circuits in youth, at a particularly important time in their lives, can be heavily influenced by external factors -- specifically the frequent and regular use of cannabis. A new study [...] reports that alterations in cognitive control -- an ensemble of processes by which the mind governs, regulates and guides behaviors, impulses, and decision-making based on goals are directly affected.

[...] The findings are based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired from 28 adolescents and young adults (aged 14-23 years) with significant cannabis use and 32 age and sex-matched non-using healthy controls. Participants were scanned during their performance of a Simon Spatial Incompatibility Task, a cognitive control task that requires resolving cognitive conflict to respond accurately.

Compared to their healthy counterparts, the adolescents and young adults with significant cannabis use showed reduced activation in the frontostriatal circuits that support cognitive control and conflict resolution.

The authors also examined the degree to which fluctuations in activity in relation to conflict resolution is synchronized across the different regions comprised in this frontostriatal circuit (that is, to what extent are regions functionally connected with each other). Although circuit connectivity did not differ between cannabis-using and non-using youth, the research team found an association between how early individuals began regularly using cannabis and the extent to which frontostriatal regions were disrupted, suggesting that earlier chronic use may have a larger impact on circuit development than use of later onset.

Deficient Functioning of Frontostriatal Circuits During the Resolution of Cognitive Conflict in Cannabis-Using Youth (DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.09.436)


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  • (Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 21 2019, @10:12PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 21 2019, @10:12PM (#858675)

    If you're under 25, you'll have to stick to Adderall, Ritalin, Paxil, Prozac, Welbutrin, opioid pain killers, etc.

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  • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Saturday June 22 2019, @02:55AM (1 child)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Saturday June 22 2019, @02:55AM (#858748)

    Dude, I know a child of Doctor/Nurse parents - he's been on some serious ADHD meds his whole life, they stunted his growth, he's barely 5' tall. He's the nicest guy you'll ever want to meet, but he's got some pretty serious doormat issues - like: lets people take advantage of him all the time. The meds have definitely made him into something that he wouldn't have been without them, and maybe that was a good thing? Nobody will ever know for sure - as long as they've got rich/stable parents, maybe the world needs more sweet little doormat people? They're nice to be around, but I don't think I'd like to be one of them.

    --
    🌻🌻 [google.com]
    • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 22 2019, @10:36AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 22 2019, @10:36AM (#858803)

      To your point about doormat issues: a lot of ADHD kids have bad self esteem because it is hard for them to read social cues or control their behavior to match social expectations of others. It can be hard to make and keep friends for them. Some compensate by being too generous. This has nothing to do with meds.

      The height issue... meds can cause some loss of potential height. That is I believe due to not eating enough, but I could be wrong.