Objective:Verbal memory deficits are linked to cannabis use. However, self-reported episodic use does not allow for assessment of variance from other factors (e.g., cannabis potency, route of consumption) that are important for assessing brain-behavior relationships. Further, co-occurring nicotine use may moderate the influence of cannabis on cognition. Here we utilized objective urinary measurements to assess the relationship between metabolites of cannabis, 11-nor-9-carboxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH), and nicotine (cotinine) on verbal memory in young adults.Method:Adolescents and young adults (n = 103) aged 16–22 completed urinary drug testing and verbal memory assessment (RAVLT). Linear regressions examined the influence of THCCOOH and cotinine quantitative concentrations, and their interaction, on RAVLT scores, controlling for demographics and alcohol. Cannabis intake frequency was also investigated. Secondary analyses examined whether past month or recency of use related to performance, while controlling for THCCOOH and cotinine concentrations.Results:THCCOOH concentration related to both poorer total learning and long delay recall. Cotinine concentration related to poorer short delay recall. Higher frequency cannabis use status was associated with poorer initial learning and poorer short delay. When comparing to self-report, THCCOOH and cotinine concentrations were negatively related to learning and memory performance, while self-report was not.Conclusions:Results confirm the negative relationship between verbal memory and cannabis use, extending findings with objective urinary THCCOOH, and cotinine concentration measurements. No moderating relationship with nicotine was found, though cotinine concentration independently associated with negative short delay performance. Findings support the use of both urinary and self-report metrics as complementary methods in substance use research.

中文翻译：

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大麻和尼古丁尿液代谢物作为年轻人语言记忆表现和学习的预测因子的初步证据

目的：语言记忆缺陷与大麻使用有关。然而，自我报告的间歇性使用不允许评估对评估大脑行为关系很重要的其他因素（例如，大麻效力、消费途径）的差异。此外，同时使用尼古丁可能会减轻大麻对认知的影响。在这里，我们利用客观的尿液测量来评估大麻代谢物、11-nor-9-羧基-Δ9-四氢大麻酚 (THCCOOH) 和尼古丁 (可替宁) 对年轻人语言记忆的关系。方法：青少年和年轻人 (n= 103) 16-22 岁的人完成了尿液药物测试和语言记忆评估 (RAVLT)。线性回归检查 THCCOOH 和可替宁定量浓度及其相互作用对 RAVLT 评分的影响，控制人口统计和酒精。还调查了大麻的摄入频率。次要分析检查过去一个月或最近的使用是否与表现有关，同时控制 THCCOOH 和可替宁浓度。结果：THCCOOH 浓度与较差的总学习和长时间延迟回忆有关。可替宁浓度与较差的短延迟回忆有关。较高频率的大麻使用状态与较差的初始学习和较短的延迟有关。与自我报告相比，THCCOOH 和可替宁浓度与学习和记忆能力呈负相关，而自我报告则不是。结论：结果证实了言语记忆与大麻使用之间的负相关关系，并通过客观的尿 THCCOOH 和可替宁浓度测量扩展了研究结果。没有发现与尼古丁的调节关系，尽管可替宁浓度与负的短延迟性能独立相关。研究结果支持使用尿液和自我报告指标作为物质使用研究的补充方法。