3.

Question 1

prefrontal cortex dysfunction

Answer 1

substance users show evidence of impaired executive abilities or abnormal brain activity during motivational tasks

-weakened response inhibition
-increased risk-taking
-poor decision-making
-preference for smaller immediate reward over larger but delayed ones

Question 2

cannabis and cognitive functioning

Answer 2

THC leads to deficits in immediate and delayed recall of new information

HOWEVER, it does not impair the recall of pre-intoxication information, indicating intact long-term memory storage.

Question 3

Long-term effects of cannabis on memory

Answer 3

some longitudinal studies suggest memory deficits dissipate after 1-2 months of abstinence,

Question 4

effects of cannabis on decision -making task

Answer 4

meta-analysis showed cannabis users perform more poorly than controls

Question 5

iowa gambling task

Answer 5

on each trial, ps must select a card from 1/4 decks on a computer screen

each deck is associated with specific reward and punishment contingencies

controls perform better

Question 6

cannabis and intellectual functioning

Answer 6

the dunedin longtiduinal study

longitudinal study of 1037 ppl born over 1972 and 1973 in dunedin, NZ

assessed every 2 years in childhood and adolescence, and further assessed as young adults

Meier used IQ scores taken across late childhood/easrly adolescence (pre-cannabis use) and comapred with IQ at age 38

Question 7

findings

Answer 7

heavy regular use of cannabis associated with a decline in IQ from childhood to 38

processing speed and executive function tests showed strongest decline

Question 8

is impairment attributable to persistent cannabis use or are there alternative explanations

Answer 8

decline in IQ remained significant when controlling for other licit and illicit substance use, diagnoses of SZ, and years of education

Question 9

are adolescent cannabis users particularly vulenrable

Answer 9

yes adolescent onset users showed greater decline than adult onset users

heaviest adolescent onset users show decline 8IQ points

Question 10

difference between adolescent oonset and adult onset

Answer 10

IQ decline shown for adolescent persistent users for both infrequent and frequent users

frequency of use not associated with IQ decline for adult onset persistent users

those who have infrequent and frequent cannabis use at 38 yo and had adolescent onset, had a bigger decline in IQ

Question 11

why is the adolescent brain mode vulenrable

Answer 11

interference in normal adolescent brain development e.g. changes in white and grey matter volume, synaptic pruning

Ashtari et al used MRI scans to show that early onset adolescent, but currently abstinent, ex-cannabis users had sign smaller left and right hippocampal volume compared with matched controls

negative correlation between right hippocampal volume and total number of joints smoked