Previous research has found that marijuana use may have an effect on cognitive functioning and lead to negative consequences. This study attempted to look at acute effects of marijuana use on young adult’s performance of mobile cognitive tasks. The researchers also wanted to look at levels of distractions and if there is an association to subjective marijuana highs.
To complete the study, participants downloaded the study applications to their personal phones. They then completed surveys and questionnaires through the application along with 30 days of daily data collection. Participants would complete self-initiated surveys when they started using marijuana and they also completed fixed-time daily surveys 3 times daily. The cognitive tasks included a Flowers task to assess short-term spatial awareness, a test to measure attentional bias for marijuana-related stimuli, and an information processing and psychomotor speed test which is sensitive to acute drug effects.
The results showed that 16 out of the 60 participants used marijuana daily and the most common method of use was pen or vaporizer. The number of distractions during a cognitive task when not high was 1.1 and was 0.9 when high. Higher rating of subjective marijuana high was associated with slower reaction times for all three tasks administered along with more incorrect responses. Overall the researchers found that reported distractions moderated the association of marijuana high, reaction time, and correct responses. These findings are important when providing feedback to young adults about decision making while using marijuana along with providing education about marijuana’s effects.
Take Away: This study attempted to look at acute effects of marijuana use on young adult’s performance of mobile cognitive tasks along with levels of distraction. To complete the study, participants downloaded the study application and completed self-initiated surveys when they started using marijuana. They also completed fixed-time daily surveys 3 times daily. The cognitive tasks included assessing short-term spatial awareness, attentional bias for marijuana-related stimuli, and information processing. Overall the researchers found that reported distractions moderated the association of marijuana high, reaction time, and correct responses. These findings are important when providing feedback to young adults about decision making while using marijuana along with providing education about marijuana’s effects.