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Female Sex as a Protective Factor in the Effects of Chronic Cannabis Use on Verbal Learning and Memory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2021

Rayna Hirst Open the ORCID record for Rayna Hirst [Opens in a new window] ,
Dylan Vaughn ,
Sana Arastu ,
Aubrey Deneen  and
Haig Pilavjian
Rayna Hirst*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto94304, CA, USA
Dylan Vaughn
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto94304, CA, USA
Sana Arastu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto94304, CA, USA
Aubrey Deneen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto94304, CA, USA
Haig Pilavjian
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto94304, CA, USA
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Rayna Hirst, Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto94304, CA, USA. E-mail: rhirst@paloaltou.edu. Phone: 650-417-2025
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Abstract

Objective:

The variability of findings in studies examining the effects of chronic cannabis use on neuropsychological functioning highlights the importance of examining contributing factors. Few studies examine the role of sex in the relationship between cannabis and neuropsychological functioning, despite known neurobiological structural differences between males and females. This study examined whether males and females experience differential cognitive effects of chronic cannabis use.

Method:

Chronic cannabis users (3+ days per week for >12 months, n = 110, 72% male) and non-users (n = 71, 39% male) completed a neuropsychological test battery. Two multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) examined for sex differences in performance within users and non-users on neuropsychological tests, controlling for potential confounding variables. Bonferroni corrections were applied to adjust for multiple comparisons.

Results:

Male and female cannabis users did not differ in cannabis use variables. Female cannabis users performed better than males on multiple subtests of the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), a verbal learning and memory test. Male cannabis users performed better than female users on Trial 1 of the CVLT-II (p = .002), and Trail Making Test B (p = .001), which measure attention and cognitive flexibility, respectively. Non-user males and females performed comparably, with the exception of Trail Making Test B (p = .001).

Conclusions:

Results suggest that chronic cannabis use differentially impacts males and females, with females exhibiting better verbal learning and memory despite males demonstrating better attention and cognitive flexibility. Further research is needed to understand the potential protective mechanism of female sex on learning and memory effects of cannabis use.

Keywords

MarijuanaGenderCannabisMemoryRecallAttention
Type
Regular Research
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 27 , Special Issue 6: Clarifying the Complexities of Cannabis and Cognition , July 2021 , pp. 581 - 591
Copyright
Copyright © INS. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2021

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