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Increased susceptibility to memory intrusions and the Stroop interference effect during acute marijuana intoxication
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Marijuana significantly impairs memory recall, particularly in tasks requiring inhibition and associative control. However, attention and basic cognitive functions like reading speed remain unaffected by THC.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on cognitive function are a significant area of research.
- Understanding memory impairment is crucial for assessing the impact of marijuana use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate marijuana's acute effects on memory and cognitive processes.
- To determine specific cognitive domains affected by THC.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, crossover study involving 12 male participants.
- Administration of THC-containing marijuana and placebo cigarettes.
- Assessment using the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, Stroop Color and Word Test, Randt Memory Battery, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in omissions and intrusions in delayed free recall after THC consumption.
- Greater Stroop interference effect observed, indicating difficulties in inhibiting responses.
- No significant impact on immediate/sustained attention, semantic memory retrieval, or color naming speed.
Conclusions:
- Marijuana acutely impairs memory, specifically affecting delayed free recall and response inhibition.
- THC appears to compromise associative control, a key cognitive process in memory function.
- Cognitive functions like attention and basic processing speed are not demonstrably affected by acute marijuana use.