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. 2015 Dec:16:46-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.07.004. Epub 2015 Jul 23.

Impact of cannabis use on prefrontal and parietal cortex gyrification and surface area in adolescents and emerging adults

Skyler G Shollenbarger  1 , Jenessa Price  2 , Jon Wieser  3 , Krista Lisdahl  4
Affiliations

Impact of cannabis use on prefrontal and parietal cortex gyrification and surface area in adolescents and emerging adults

Skyler G Shollenbarger et al. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Regions undergoing maturation with CB1 receptors may be at increased risk for cannabis-induced alterations. Here, we examine the relationships between cannabis use and prefrontal (PFC) and inferior parietal gyrification and surface area (SA) in youth.

Methods: Participants included 33 cannabis users and 35 controls (ages 18-25). Exclusions included co-morbid psychiatric/neurologic disorders and heavy other drug use. Multiple regressions and Pearson r correlations examined the effects of cannabis use on gyrification, SA and cognition.

Results: Cannabis use was associated with decreased gyrification in: ventral-medial PFC (RH: [FDR corrected p=.02], LH: [FDR corrected p=.02]); medial PFC (RH: [FDR corrected p=.02], LH: [FDR corrected p=.02]); and frontal poles (RH: [FDR corrected p=.02], LH: [FDR corrected p=.02]). No differences were observed in bilateral hemispheres, PFC, dorsolateral, ventrolateral, or inferior parietal ROIs. Cannabis use was associated with marginally decreased SA in left: medial PFC [FDR corrected p=.09], and ventral lateral PFC: [FDR corrected p=.09]. In cannabis users, increased gyrification was associated with improved working-memory performance in right medial (p=.003), ventral-medial (p=.03), and frontal pole ROIs (p=.007).

Conclusions: Cannabis use was associated with reduced gyrification in PFC regions implicated in self-referential thought and social cognition. Results suggest that these gyrification characteristics may have cognitive implications.

Keywords: Cannabis; Cognition; Emerging adults; Gyrification; Marijuana; Prefrontal and parietal cortex.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ROI's of cannabis users with significantly reduced LGI and the corresponding p values and FDR corrected p values corrected for multiple comparisons. Note: yellow = medical PFC; blue = frontal pole; orange = ventral medial PFC; Lh = left hemisphere; Rh = right hemisphere; LGI = local gyrification index.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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