1
|
Bloomer BF, Larson ER, Tullar RL, Herms EN, Bolbecker AR, O'Donnell BF, Hetrick WP, Wisner KM. Alterations in self-reported sensory gating and interoception in individuals frequently using cannabis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38563523 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2332602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background: Cannabis use is associated with altered processing of external (exteroceptive) and internal (interoceptive) sensory stimuli. However, little research exists on whether subjective experiences of these processes are altered in people who frequently use cannabis. Altered exteroception may influence externally oriented attention, whereas interoceptive differences have implications for intoxication, craving, and withdrawal states.Objectives: The goal of the current study was to investigate subjective experiences of exteroceptive sensory gating and interoception in people frequently using cannabis. We hypothesized subjective impairments in sensory gating and elevations in affect-related interoceptive awareness; furthermore, such deviations would relate to cannabis use patterns.Methods: This cross-sectional study of community adults 18-40 years old included 72 individuals (50% female) who used cannabis at least twice a week (not intoxicated during study) and 78 individuals who did not use cannabis (60% female). Participants completed the Sensory Gating Inventory and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-2 surveys. People using cannabis completed surveys on cannabis use patterns. Analyses tested group differences and associations with cannabis use.Results: People using cannabis reported impaired sensory gating (d = 0.37-0.44; all p values < 0.05) and elevations of interoceptive awareness related to detection and affect (d = 0.21-0.61; all p values < 0.05). Problematic cannabis use was associated with increased sensory gating impairments (r = 0.37, p < .05). Interoceptive awareness was unrelated to cannabis use variables.Conclusion: These findings extend literature on subjective experiences of sensory processing in people using cannabis. Findings may inform inclusion of external attentional tendencies and internal bodily awareness in assessments of risk and novel treatment approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bess F Bloomer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Eric R Larson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Rachel L Tullar
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Emma N Herms
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Amanda R Bolbecker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Brian F O'Donnell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - William P Hetrick
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Krista M Wisner
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brick LA, Gajewski-Nemes JA, Marraccini ME, Brown S, Armey M, Nugent NR. Ecological Momentary Assessment of Cannabis Use and Affect Among Adolescents Following Psychiatric Discharge. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2023; 84:67-78. [PMID: 36799676 PMCID: PMC9948139 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.21-00450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Affect regulation is central to multiple theoretical models that explain cannabis use (CU) behavior. However, much of the research has been conducted with adults, leaving unanswered questions about the nature of associations among adolescents, especially those with affective disorders. Using clinical interviews and ecological momentary assessment (EMA), we assessed rates of adolescent CU and momentary associations with affect following psychiatric discharge among youth hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. METHOD Participants were 13- to 18-year-olds (N = 62; 64.5% female) recruited from an inpatient psychiatric hospital who reported having ever used cannabis. Participants completed clinical interviews during hospitalization. EMA was conducted for 21 days upon discharge. RESULTS Concurrent use of other drugs was associated with greater odds of CU (odds ratio = 27.63). Momentary CU was associated with higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of anger/irritability, but not with negative affect. The effect of momentary CU on positive affect was greater among youth with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that adolescents may use cannabis to enhance positive emotion, especially those with PTSD/GAD. Results highlight the importance of tailored interventions that focus on providing alternative and adaptive methods to enhance positive affect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A. Brick
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Julia A. Gajewski-Nemes
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Marisa E. Marraccini
- School Psychology Program, School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Shaquanna Brown
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Michael Armey
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Psychosocial Research Program, Butler Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Nicole R. Nugent
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
A Meta-Analysis of fMRI Studies of Youth Cannabis Use: Alterations in Executive Control, Social Cognition/Emotion Processing, and Reward Processing in Cannabis Using Youth. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12101281. [PMID: 36291215 PMCID: PMC9599849 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Adolescent cannabis use (CU) is associated with adverse health outcomes and may be increasing in response to changing cannabis laws. Recent imaging studies have identified differences in brain activity between adult CU and controls that are more prominent in early onset users. Whether these differences are present in adolescent CU and relate to age/developmental stage, sex, or cannabis exposure is unknown. Methods: A systematic review and subsequent effect-size seed-based d mapping (SDM) meta-analysis were conducted to examine differences in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response during fMRI studies between CU and non-using typically developing (TD) youth. Supplemental analyses investigated differences in BOLD signal in CU and TD youth as a function of sex, psychiatric comorbidity, and the dose and severity of cannabis exposure. Results: From 1371 citations, 45 fMRI studies were identified for inclusion in the SDM meta-analysis. These studies compared BOLD response contrasts in 1216 CU and 1486 non-using TD participants. In primary meta-analyses stratified by cognitive paradigms, CU (compared to TD) youth showed greater activation in the rostral medial prefrontal cortex (rmPFC) and decreased activation in the dorsal mPFC (dmPFC) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) during executive control and social cognition/emotion processing, respectively. In meta-regression analyses and subgroup meta-analyses, sex, cannabis use disorder (CUD) severity, and psychiatric comorbidity were correlated with brain activation differences between CU and TD youth in mPFC and insular cortical regions. Activation differences in the caudate, thalamus, insula, dmPFC/dACC, and precentral and postcentral gyri varied as a function of the length of abstinence. Conclusions: Using an SDM meta-analytic approach, this report identified differences in neuronal response between CU and TD youth during executive control, emotion processing, and reward processing in cortical and subcortical brain regions that varied as a function of sex, CUD severity, psychiatric comorbidity, and length of abstinence. Whether aberrant brain function in CU youth is attributable to common predispositional factors, cannabis-induced neuroadaptive changes, or both warrants further investigation.
Collapse
|
4
|
Gonçalves SF, Ryan M, Niehaus CE, Chaplin TM. Affect-Related Brain Activity and Adolescent Substance Use: A Systematic Review. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2022; 9:11-26. [PMID: 37009067 PMCID: PMC10062006 DOI: 10.1007/s40473-021-00241-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of review This review aims to summarize the research on brain activity during affective processing (i.e., reward, negative emotional stimuli, loss) and adolescent substance use (SU). Recent findings Most research revealed links between altered neural activity in midcingulo-insular, frontoparietal and other network regions and adolescent SU. Increased recruitment of midcingulo-insular regions-particularly the striatum-to positive affective stimuli (e.g., monetary reward) was most often associated with initiation and low-level use of substances, whereas decreased recruitment of these regions was most often associated with SUD and higher risk SU. In regards to negative affective stimuli, most research demonstrated increased recruitment of midcingulo-insular network regions. There is also evidence that these associations may be sex-specific. Summary Future research should employ longitudinal designs that assess affect-related brain activity prior to and following SU initiation and escalation. Moreover, examining sex as as moderating variable may help clarify if affective neural risk factors are sex-specific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie F. Gonçalves
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University,
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, United States
| | - Mary Ryan
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University,
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, United States
| | - Claire E. Niehaus
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University,
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, United States
| | - Tara M. Chaplin
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University,
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, United States
| |
Collapse
|