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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster
Published on: June 3, 2020
The effects of chronic marijuana use on circadian entrainment
Lauren N Whitehurst1, Kethera Fogler, Kate Hall
1Department of Psychology, University of California , Riverside, CA , USA and.
Abstract:
Animal literature suggests a connection between marijuana use and altered circadian rhythms. However, the effect has not yet been demonstrated in humans. The present study examined the effect of chronic marijuana use on human circadian function. Participants consisted of current users who reported smoking marijuana daily for at least a year and non-marijuana user controls. Participants took a neurocognitive assessment, wore actigraphs and maintained sleep diaries for three weeks. While no significant cognitive changes were found between groups, data revealed that chronic marijuana use may act as an additional zeitgeber and lead to increased entrainment in human users.
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