Submitted via IRC for Bytram
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)
(Score: 3, Informative) by Sally_G on Saturday June 22 2019, @07:46AM (1 child)
How did they ever manage to fund such an exhaustive study? That's like, what, the entire populaton of a very small high school's senior class? Did they control for mothers who used/abused drugs before the kids were born?
https://jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(18)31910-5/fulltext [jaacap.org]
It appears that they made some small effort to "control" for ADHD, and they applied some "familywise error correction". Still not impressive. They need larger numbers before they can make convincing claims.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by RS3 on Sunday June 23 2019, @05:08AM
That, and I always wonder about cause and effect, correlation vs. causation.
I'd like to see some twin studies- one that took drugs, one that didn't. That would be more meaningful.
Otherwise I will keep wondering if certain people who have certain brain physiological / chemical / something problems are drawn to mind-altering drugs and/or alcohol. And even if the drugs do cause permanent change, maybe it ends up being for the better? Again, twin studies needed.