Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation
Aims: Long-term heavy use of cannabis and alcohol are known to be associated with memory impairments. In this study, we used event-related potentials to examine verbal learning and memory processing in a commonly used behavioral task.Method: We conducted two studies: first, a small pilot study of ad...
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doaj-08e41617db6c4642b518dc828025c3502020-11-25T01:22:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782017-12-01810.3389/fpsyg.2017.02129299326Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential InvestigationJanette L. Smith0Frances M. De Blasio1Frances M. De Blasio2Jaimi M. Iredale3Allison J. Matthews4Raimondo Bruno5Michelle Dwyer6Tessa Batt7Allison M. Fox8Nadia Solowij9Richard P. Mattick10National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, AustraliaNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaSchool of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, AustraliaSchool of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, AustraliaNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaAims: Long-term heavy use of cannabis and alcohol are known to be associated with memory impairments. In this study, we used event-related potentials to examine verbal learning and memory processing in a commonly used behavioral task.Method: We conducted two studies: first, a small pilot study of adolescent males, comprising 13 Drug-Naive Controls (DNC), 12 heavy drinkers (HD) and 8 cannabis users (CU). Second, a larger study of young adults, comprising 45 DNC (20 female), 39 HD (16 female), and 20 CU (9 female). In both studies, participants completed a modified verbal learning task (the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT) while brain electrical activity was recorded. ERPs were calculated for words which were subsequently remembered vs. those which were not remembered, and for presentations of learnt words, previously seen words, and new words in a subsequent recognition test. Pre-planned principal components analyses (PCA) were used to quantify the ERP components in these recall and recognition phases separately for each study.Results: Memory performance overall was slightly lower than published norms using the standardized RAVLT delivery, but was generally similar and showed the expected changes over trials. Few differences in performance were observed between groups; a notable exception was markedly poorer delayed recall in HD relative to DNC (Study 2). PCA identified components expected from prior research using other memory tasks. At encoding, there were no between-group differences in the usual P2 recall effect (larger for recalled than not-recalled words). However, alcohol-related differences were observed in a larger P540 (indexing recollection) in HD than DNC, and cannabis-related differences were observed in a smaller N340 (indexing familiarity) and a lack of previously seen > new words effect for P540 in Study 2.Conclusions: This study is the first examination of ERPs in the RAVLT in healthy control participants, as well as substance-using individuals, and represents an important advance in methodology. The results indicate alterations in recognition memory processing, which even if not manifesting in overt behavioral impairment, underline the potential for brain dysfunction with early exposure to alcohol and cannabis.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02129/fullRAVLTprincipal components analysisrecollectionfamiliarityalcoholcannabis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Janette L. Smith Frances M. De Blasio Frances M. De Blasio Jaimi M. Iredale Allison J. Matthews Raimondo Bruno Michelle Dwyer Tessa Batt Allison M. Fox Nadia Solowij Richard P. Mattick |
spellingShingle |
Janette L. Smith Frances M. De Blasio Frances M. De Blasio Jaimi M. Iredale Allison J. Matthews Raimondo Bruno Michelle Dwyer Tessa Batt Allison M. Fox Nadia Solowij Richard P. Mattick Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation Frontiers in Psychology RAVLT principal components analysis recollection familiarity alcohol cannabis |
author_facet |
Janette L. Smith Frances M. De Blasio Frances M. De Blasio Jaimi M. Iredale Allison J. Matthews Raimondo Bruno Michelle Dwyer Tessa Batt Allison M. Fox Nadia Solowij Richard P. Mattick |
author_sort |
Janette L. Smith |
title |
Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation |
title_short |
Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation |
title_full |
Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation |
title_fullStr |
Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Verbal Learning and Memory in Cannabis and Alcohol Users: An Event-Related Potential Investigation |
title_sort |
verbal learning and memory in cannabis and alcohol users: an event-related potential investigation |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Psychology |
issn |
1664-1078 |
publishDate |
2017-12-01 |
description |
Aims: Long-term heavy use of cannabis and alcohol are known to be associated with memory impairments. In this study, we used event-related potentials to examine verbal learning and memory processing in a commonly used behavioral task.Method: We conducted two studies: first, a small pilot study of adolescent males, comprising 13 Drug-Naive Controls (DNC), 12 heavy drinkers (HD) and 8 cannabis users (CU). Second, a larger study of young adults, comprising 45 DNC (20 female), 39 HD (16 female), and 20 CU (9 female). In both studies, participants completed a modified verbal learning task (the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT) while brain electrical activity was recorded. ERPs were calculated for words which were subsequently remembered vs. those which were not remembered, and for presentations of learnt words, previously seen words, and new words in a subsequent recognition test. Pre-planned principal components analyses (PCA) were used to quantify the ERP components in these recall and recognition phases separately for each study.Results: Memory performance overall was slightly lower than published norms using the standardized RAVLT delivery, but was generally similar and showed the expected changes over trials. Few differences in performance were observed between groups; a notable exception was markedly poorer delayed recall in HD relative to DNC (Study 2). PCA identified components expected from prior research using other memory tasks. At encoding, there were no between-group differences in the usual P2 recall effect (larger for recalled than not-recalled words). However, alcohol-related differences were observed in a larger P540 (indexing recollection) in HD than DNC, and cannabis-related differences were observed in a smaller N340 (indexing familiarity) and a lack of previously seen > new words effect for P540 in Study 2.Conclusions: This study is the first examination of ERPs in the RAVLT in healthy control participants, as well as substance-using individuals, and represents an important advance in methodology. The results indicate alterations in recognition memory processing, which even if not manifesting in overt behavioral impairment, underline the potential for brain dysfunction with early exposure to alcohol and cannabis. |
topic |
RAVLT principal components analysis recollection familiarity alcohol cannabis |
url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02129/full |
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