The chronic effects of cannabis on memory in humans: a review.

@article{Solowij2008TheCE,
  title={The chronic effects of cannabis on memory in humans: a review.},
  author={Nadia Solowij and Robert A. Battisti},
  journal={Current drug abuse reviews},
  year={2008},
  volume={1 1},
  pages={
          81-98
        }
}
Memory problems are frequently associated with cannabis use, in both the short- and long-term. To date, reviews on the long-term cognitive sequelae of cannabis use have examined a broad range of cognitive functions, with none specifically focused on memory. Consequently, this review sought to examine the literature specific to memory function in cannabis users in the nontoxicated state with the aim of identifying the existence and nature of memory impairment in cannabis users and appraising… 
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358 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
10
Background Citations
171
Methods Citations
5
Results Citations
16

Tables from this paper

358 Citations

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The present findings indicate that cannabis use has a modest effect on self-reported problems with prospective memory, with a primary problem with retrospective memory appearing to underlie this relationship.
Chronic cannabis use and the brain: a neurophysiological investigation into the effects on human memory and attention
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The effect of cannabis use on prospective memory processes in young adults
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[Cognitive abnormalities and cannabis use].
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The endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in regulatory neural mechanisms that modulate processes underlying a range of cognitive functions that are impaired by cannabis, and defects in human users most likely reflect neuroadaptations and altered functioning of the endogenous cannabinoids system.
Weighing the Evidence: A Systematic Review on Long-Term Neurocognitive Effects of Cannabis Use in Abstinent Adolescents and Adults
TLDR
Findings are mixed regarding impairments in inhibition, impulsivity and decision making for CU, but there is a trend towards worse performance, and heavy use is found to be more consistently associated with effects in diverse domains than early age of onset.
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TLDR
A preliminary and exploratory analysis suggests that a sub-set of cannabis users may not accurately perceive difficulties with memory, and this hypothesis should be tested with the use of a control group, comprehensive self-reports of memory problems, and adult populations that may have more years of cannabis use and more severe cognitive deficits.
False memory formation in cannabis users: a field study
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It is concluded that cannabis intoxication and history of cannabis use induce a liberal response criterion for newly presented words for which the level of association with previously learned words is low and uncertainty is high.
Cannabis Use and Cognitive Function
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