Effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampal activity during an associative memory task

Gerry Jager; Hendrika H. Van Hell; Maartje M.L. De Win; Rene S. Kahn; Wim Van Den Brink; Jan M. Van Ree; Nick F. Ramsey

doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2006.10.003

Effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampal activity during an associative memory task

Gerry Jager, Hendrika H. Van Hell, Maartje M.L. De Win, Rene S. Kahn, Wim Van Den Brink, Jan M. Van Ree, Nick F. Ramsey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

141 Scopus citations

Abstract

Interest is growing in the neurotoxic potential of cannabis on human brain function. We studied non-acute effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampus-dependent associative memory, investigated with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in 20 frequent cannabis users and 20 non-users matched for age, gender and IQ. Structural changes in the (para)hippocampal region were measured using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Cannabis users displayed lower activation than non-users in brain regions involved in associative learning, particularly in the (para)hippocampal regions and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, despite normal performance. VBM-analysis of the (para)hippocampal regions revealed no differences in brain tissue composition between cannabis users and non-users. No relation was found between (para)hippocampal tissue composition and the magnitude of brain activity in the (para)hippocampal area. Therefore, lower brain activation may not signify neurocognitive impairment, but could be the expression of a non-cognitive variable related to frequent cannabis use, for example changes in cerebral perfusion or differences in vigilance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	289-297
Number of pages	9
Journal	European Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume	17
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2006.10.003
State	Published - Mar 2007
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Brain function
Cannabis
Hippocampus
Memory
Voxel-based morphometry
fMRI

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10.1016/j.euroneuro.2006.10.003

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title = "Effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampal activity during an associative memory task",

abstract = "Interest is growing in the neurotoxic potential of cannabis on human brain function. We studied non-acute effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampus-dependent associative memory, investigated with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in 20 frequent cannabis users and 20 non-users matched for age, gender and IQ. Structural changes in the (para)hippocampal region were measured using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Cannabis users displayed lower activation than non-users in brain regions involved in associative learning, particularly in the (para)hippocampal regions and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, despite normal performance. VBM-analysis of the (para)hippocampal regions revealed no differences in brain tissue composition between cannabis users and non-users. No relation was found between (para)hippocampal tissue composition and the magnitude of brain activity in the (para)hippocampal area. Therefore, lower brain activation may not signify neurocognitive impairment, but could be the expression of a non-cognitive variable related to frequent cannabis use, for example changes in cerebral perfusion or differences in vigilance.",

keywords = "Brain function, Cannabis, Hippocampus, Memory, Voxel-based morphometry, fMRI",

author = "Gerry Jager and {Van Hell}, {Hendrika H.} and {De Win}, {Maartje M.L.} and Kahn, {Rene S.} and {Van Den Brink}, Wim and {Van Ree}, {Jan M.} and Ramsey, {Nick F.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by a grant of The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development as part of their Addiction Program (ZonMW 310-00-036). The study was performed with approval of the ethics committee from the University Medical Center Utrecht, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki 2004. ",

year = "2007",

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pages = "289--297",

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AU - Jager, Gerry

AU - Van Hell, Hendrika H.

AU - De Win, Maartje M.L.

AU - Kahn, Rene S.

AU - Van Den Brink, Wim

AU - Van Ree, Jan M.

AU - Ramsey, Nick F.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by a grant of The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development as part of their Addiction Program (ZonMW 310-00-036). The study was performed with approval of the ethics committee from the University Medical Center Utrecht, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki 2004.

PY - 2007/3

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N2 - Interest is growing in the neurotoxic potential of cannabis on human brain function. We studied non-acute effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampus-dependent associative memory, investigated with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in 20 frequent cannabis users and 20 non-users matched for age, gender and IQ. Structural changes in the (para)hippocampal region were measured using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Cannabis users displayed lower activation than non-users in brain regions involved in associative learning, particularly in the (para)hippocampal regions and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, despite normal performance. VBM-analysis of the (para)hippocampal regions revealed no differences in brain tissue composition between cannabis users and non-users. No relation was found between (para)hippocampal tissue composition and the magnitude of brain activity in the (para)hippocampal area. Therefore, lower brain activation may not signify neurocognitive impairment, but could be the expression of a non-cognitive variable related to frequent cannabis use, for example changes in cerebral perfusion or differences in vigilance.

AB - Interest is growing in the neurotoxic potential of cannabis on human brain function. We studied non-acute effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampus-dependent associative memory, investigated with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in 20 frequent cannabis users and 20 non-users matched for age, gender and IQ. Structural changes in the (para)hippocampal region were measured using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Cannabis users displayed lower activation than non-users in brain regions involved in associative learning, particularly in the (para)hippocampal regions and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, despite normal performance. VBM-analysis of the (para)hippocampal regions revealed no differences in brain tissue composition between cannabis users and non-users. No relation was found between (para)hippocampal tissue composition and the magnitude of brain activity in the (para)hippocampal area. Therefore, lower brain activation may not signify neurocognitive impairment, but could be the expression of a non-cognitive variable related to frequent cannabis use, for example changes in cerebral perfusion or differences in vigilance.

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KW - Hippocampus

KW - Memory

KW - Voxel-based morphometry

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Effects of frequent cannabis use on hippocampal activity during an associative memory task

Abstract

Keywords

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