In a world where the cannabis It is increasingly legalized and normalized, the questions about his effects on the brain They have never been so pressing. A recent study, the largest and most complete in its kind, offers some of the clearest information so far on how the use of cannabis affects brain function during cognitive tasks.
The researchers have discovery A surprising scheme: i heavy cannabis consumers show reduced brain activity During working memory tasks and the cognitive function that helps us to keep and use the information at the moment. The results suggest that the effects of the drug on the brain could be more persistent than previously thought.
The study
The study was conducted by Dr. Joshua Gowin, assistant professor of radiology at the School of Medicine of the University of Colorado.
He examined over 1,000 young adults aged between 22 and 36 years old. Using advanced brain imaging technology, researchers found that the 63% of the usual consumers of cannabis and 68% of recent consumers showed a decrease in brain activity during working memory activities.
This decline has been associated with lower performance in tasks that require detention and manipulation of information, such as following instructions or solving a simple math problem.
The study ranked the participants based on their cannabis consumption. They defined heavy consumers as those who had used cannabis more than 1,000 times during their life.
Moderate users had used it between 10 and 999 times, while non -users had used it less than 10 times. This classification has allowed researchers to explore how the different levels of use could be related to the brain function. They also tested the recent consumption of cannabis by analyzing urine champions.
Cannabis and working memory
The participants were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while they completed seven cognitive tasks. These tasks have tested the working memory, the processing of the reward, the regulation of emotions, linguistic skills, motor skills, relational reasoning and the theory of mind (the ability to understand the mental states of others). Among these, working memory tasks stand out.
The researchers found a statistically significant reduction in brain activity during these tasks. And both recent and habitual consumers of cannabis have shown this trend. This raises questions how long the acute effects of cannabis last and if they could worsen over time with intense use.
The researchers warn that their study is transversal, in the sense that it provides a snapshot over time rather than monitor changes over the years. This makes it difficult to establish a causal link: if The use of cannabis directly causes these brain changes or if people with certain brain characteristics are more likely to use cannabis heavily.
In any case, the researchers observed that abstaining from cannabis well before engaging in cognitive tasks could improve performance. For now, the message is clear: even if cannabis can be increasingly accepted, it is not risk without risk.
Source: Oxford Academy
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