Jon M. Houck|Angela D. Bryan|Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing
Functional connectivity and cannabis use in high-risk adolescents
Mind Research Network|University of Colorado Boulder|University of New Mexico
background adolescence unique neurodevelopmental period regions brain able assess risk reward still development cannabis use adolescence associated persistent negative outcomes although measures resting brain activity useful assessing functional connectivity measures broadly applied adolescent cannabisusers objectives goal present study analyze associations cannabis use resting brain activity sample highrisk adolescents methods eightytwo highrisk youth 1418 years old recruited juvenile justice day program youth completed brief neurocognitive battery including assessments cannabis use 5minute resting functional magnetic resonance imaging fmri scan intrinsic connectivity networks extracted using gift toolbox brain activity frontotemporal network compared youth high cannabis use vs low cannabis use using independentsamples ttest alcohol use entered covariate results analysis revealed two elements within frontotemporal network related cannabis use one middle frontal gyrus related high cannabis use one middle temporal gyrus related low cannabis use frontal source survived application cluster size threshold significant p 0005 conclusions results consistent patterns activity adult cannabisusers observed effect may reflect either preexisting risk factors nearterm consequences cannabis use prevention intervention strategies address frontotemporal functioning may particularly helpful population