A new study has been made public showing a negative impact on seven cognitive tasks by cannabis users. Most significant and most troubling was the effect on “working memory.” Unlike the “short-term memory” of remembering a phone number, “working memory” is vital for reasoning, decision-making, problem-solving, focusing attention, controlling our behavior, and other mental skills for day-to-day functioning as a human being.
The study included brain scans of cannabis users which indicated lower levels of brain activation during simple tasks based on working memory. The consequences were seen as seemingly permanent among heavy, long-term users, even after drug use was stopped and the drug was no longer detected in the body.
The areas of the brain with lower activity included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and the anterior insula which are all areas associated with working memory. These areas of the brain have a high density of CB1 receptors which are the targets for the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compound in cannabis. These receptors become less sensitive due to cannabis use.
