Neurocognitive Disinhibition and Cannabis Addiction: A Career Development Award

说明(申请人提供)：大麻是美国使用最广泛的非法药物，目前在青少年和年轻人中使用最普遍。大麻素受体密集分布在人类大脑中，对戒烟者进行的神经成像研究结果表明，大脑功能异常，神经认知功能的衡量标准往往没有反映出来。相比之下，越来越多的证据表明，理论驱动的神经认知去抑制措施对与成瘾病理生理学有关的大脑结构和电路的完整性敏感，可能对评估大麻使用者的神经认知异常有价值。拟议的研究计划将研究神经认知去抑制在大麻使用和成瘾中的作用，方法是在16至24岁的大样本(n=216)参与者中描述几种抑制控制措施的表现，这些参与者的大麻接触和使用以及大麻成瘾的流行率将有所不同。调查将在一项培训计划的背景下进行，该计划广泛包括在成瘾神经科学、对青少年进行物质使用研究以及纵向统计和研究方法方面的新培训。培训和指导将由候选人的赞助商(Robin Mermelstein博士)、共同赞助商(Susan Tapert博士)和顾问(Edwin Cook、Harriet De Wit、Donald Hedeker、Mitchell Roitman和Ralph Tarter博士)提供。结合拟议的培训计划，这项横断面研究的结果将使劳尔·冈萨雷斯博士能够为开展纵向调查奠定必要的基础和获得必要的新培训，以描绘神经认知去抑制在大麻成瘾的发展和维持中的复杂作用，将在本奖项的最后一年作为R01申请提交。初步调查将通过提供重要的“动手”培训和产生试点数据来支持培训目标，以开发一个模型和一系列研究研究，其中考虑到神经认知去抑制在大麻成瘾的形成和维持过程中的作用。这项拟议研究的结果揭示了神经认知去抑制与大麻的使用和大麻成瘾的严重程度之间的关系。这将导致未来的研究，可能确定有大麻成瘾风险的青少年，并为干预措施提供信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cannabis is the most widely-used illicit drug in the United States, and its use is currently most prevalent among adolescents and young adults. Cannabinoid receptors are densely distributed in the human brain and results from neuroimaging studies of abstinent cannabis users suggest functional brain abnormalities that are often not reflected on measures of neurocognitive functioning. In contrast, mounting evidence indicates that theory-driven measures of neurocognitive disinhibition are sensitive to the integrity of brain structures and circuits implicated in addiction pathophysiology and may be of value in the assessment of neurocognitive abnormalities in cannabis users. The proposed research plan will examine the role of neurocognitive disinhibition in cannabis use and addiction by characterizing performance on several measures of inhibitory control in a large sample (n = 216) of participants between the ages of 16 and 24 who will vary in exposure and use of cannabis, as well as prevalence of cannabis addiction. The investigation will be carried out in the context of a training plan that broadly includes new training in addictions neuroscience, conducting substance use research with adolescents, and longitudinal statistics and research methods. Training and mentorship will be provided by the candidate's sponsor (Dr Robin Mermelstein), co-sponsor (Dr Susan Tapert), and consultants (Drs Edwin Cook, Harriet de Wit, Donald Hedeker, Mitchell Roitman, and Ralph Tarter). In conjunction with the proposed training plan, the findings from this cross-sectional study will allow Dr Raul Gonzalez to lay the necessary groundwork and obtain essential new training for development of a longitudinal investigation to delineate the complex role of neurocognitive disinhibition in the development and maintenance of cannabis addiction, to be submitted as an R01 application during the final year of this award. The initial investigation will support the training aims by providing important "hands-on" training and by generating pilot data to develop a model and series of research studies that consider neurocognitive disinhibition in both the development and maintenance of cannabis addiction. The findings from the proposed study inform how neurocognitive disinhibition relates to use of cannabis and the severity of cannabis addiction. This will lead to future studies that may identify youth at risk for cannabis addiction and inform interventions.