Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 182, Issue 2 , Pages 152-159, 30 May 2010

Abnormal cerebellar morphometry in abstinent adolescent marijuana users

  • Krista Lisdahl Medina

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, 401D Dyer Hall, Cincinnati, OH 45221, United States
    • ,
  • Bonnie J. Nagel

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
    • ,
  • Susan F. Tapert

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (151B), San Diego, CA 92161, United States
    • VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, United States
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (151B), San Diego, CA 92161, United States. Tel.: +1 858 552 8585x2599; fax: +1 858 642 6474.

Received 17 July 2009; received in revised form 29 December 2009; accepted 31 December 2009.

Abstract 

Functional neuroimaging data from adults have, in general, revealed frontocerebellar dysfunction associated with acute and chronic marijuana (MJ) use. The goal of this study was to characterize cerebellar volume in adolescent chronic MJ users following 1 month of monitored abstinence. Participants were MJ users (n=16) and controls (n=16) aged 16–18years. Extensive exclusionary criteria included history of psychiatric or neurologic disorders. Drug use history, neuropsychological data, and structural brain scans were collected after 28days of monitored abstinence. Trained research staff defined cerebellar volumes (including three cerebellar vermis lobes and both cerebellar hemispheres) on high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. Adolescent MJ users demonstrated significantly larger inferior posterior (lobules VIII–X) vermis volume than controls, above and beyond effects of lifetime alcohol and other drug use, gender, and intracranial volume. Larger vermis volumes were associated with poorer executive functioning. Following 1 month of abstinence, adolescent MJ users had significantly larger posterior cerebellar vermis volumes than non-using controls. These greater volumes are suggested to be pathological based on linkage to poorer executive functioning. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine typical cerebellar development during adolescence and the influence of marijuana use.

Keywords: Adolescents, MRI, Cerebellum, Vermis, Cannabis, Marijuana

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PII: S0925-4927(10)00002-8

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2009.12.004

Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 182, Issue 2 , Pages 152-159, 30 May 2010

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