Cannabis use in early adolescence: Evidence of amygdala hypersensitivity to signals of threat.

摘要: Cannabis use in adolescence may be characterized by differences the neural basis of affective processing. In this study, we used an fMRI face processing task to compare a large group (n=70) 14-year olds with history cannabis never-using controls matched on numerous characteristics including IQ, SES, alcohol and cigarette use. The contained short movies displaying angry neutral faces. Results indicated that users had greater reactivity bilateral amygdalae faces than faces, effect was not observed their abstinent peers. contrast, activity levels cortical areas right temporal-parietal junction dorsolateral prefrontal cortex did discriminate between two conditions, but differ controls. Results change after excluding subjects any psychiatric symptomology. Given high density cannabinoid receptors amygdala, our findings suggest early is associated hypersensitivity signals threat. Hypersensitivity negative affect place subject at-risk for mood disorders adulthood.