The effects of cannabis on information-processing speed

Despite extensive research on the effects of cannabis on cognitive and motor performance, studies administering computerised cognitive batteries and pencil-and-paper tests have not provided consistent results. Contributing factors are the broad range of tests used, together with a lack of sensitivit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Addictive behaviors 2004-08, Vol.29 (6), p.1213-1219
Main Authors: Kelleher, Lucia M., Stough, Con, Sergejew, Alex A., Rolfe, Tim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adult
Cannabis
Cannabis - adverse effects
Cannabis - poisoning
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognition Disorders - etiology
Dependence
Female
Humans
Information processing
Male
Marijuana
Marijuana Abuse - psychology
Neuropsychological Tests
Reaction Time - drug effects
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - psychology
Tolerance
Withdrawal
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Summary:Despite extensive research on the effects of cannabis on cognitive and motor performance, studies administering computerised cognitive batteries and pencil-and-paper tests have not provided consistent results. Contributing factors are the broad range of tests used, together with a lack of sensitivity for assessing specific cognitive processes. This study for the first time assesses a very early cognitive process, information processing, that is sufficiently fundamental as to be immune from higher cognitive, motivational, and social processes. Information processes are thought to represent the basic building blocks of higher order cognitive processes. The inspection time (IT) task was used to investigate the effects of acute and subacute cannabis use on information processing in 22 heavy users, compared to 22 noncannabis-using controls. Findings indicate that users in the subacute state display significantly slowed information-processing speeds (longer ITs) compared to controls. Paradoxically, this deficit appears to be normalised whilst users are in the acute state. These results may be explained as a withdrawal effect, but may also be due to tolerance development as a result of long-term cannabis use. Furthermore, these results may assist in providing an explanation for the development of dependence with chronic cannabis users.
ISSN:0306-4603
1873-6327
DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.03.039