Smoking cannabis on a regular basis changes the brain’s natural reward circuits, according to new research. This could affect peoples’ ability to make decisions and maintain relationships as their perspective on risks and rewards is altered.
It is believed that this is the first time scientists have proven it is possible to identify chronic marijuana users from how their brains respond to cannabis cues compared to natural reward cues. The research suggested it is possible to identify whether someone’s drug use is recreational or problematic based on their brain activity.
As part of the study, 59 marijuana users and 70 nonusers were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure that uses MRI technology to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. Researchers presented both groups with visual cues associated with drug use such as bongs and joints, followed by other images such as healthy fruit.
