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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Identifying EEG markers related to acute cannabis consumption: A systematic review
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Vol.172, pp.1-15
2025
PMID: 40057256
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Background/rationale
Electroencephalography (EEG) has potential to provide a sensitive measure of the acute neurophysiological response to cannabis administration. As delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; the psychoactive constituent of cannabis) can induce transient neurocognitive impairments that differ as a function of tolerance and dose, understanding the neural profile related to intoxication would be of great benefit in the wake of increasing recreational and medicinal use. Accordingly, the present systematic review examined the current research literature related to acute cannabis administration and EEG measures.
Methods
Peer-reviewed articles published from 2000 were assessed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies that administered non-synthetic cannabis, containing THC (orally or inhaled) and reported differences in EEG outcomes within the acute time frame (<6 hours post-administration) as compared to baseline or placebo, were eligible for inclusion.
Results/discussion
A total of 16 studies were eligible for inclusion, of which 11 reported differences in the amplitude/latency of event-related potentials (ERPs) and 9 reported changes in frequency band power. Of the ERPs, the P3 was identified as a potential indicator of recent cannabis consumption, as demonstrated by decreased P3 amplitude across various doses (generally exhibiting small-to-moderate magnitude effects where effect sizes were reported). Oscillatory activity in the theta frequency band power range (typically 4–7 Hz) was impacted following cannabis administration, with some support for a dose-dependent change in power. The present results highlight the potential utility of some EEG measures as markers of recent cannabis consumption, although great heterogeneity in participant characteristics and reported data limits conclusions from these results. It is also evident that EEG changes in highly tolerant user groups (such as those who use cannabis medicinally), require further exploration.
Details
- Title
- Identifying EEG markers related to acute cannabis consumption: A systematic review
- Authors
- C Schiemer (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationM J Summers - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyK B Stefanidis - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research Collaboration
- Publication details
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Vol.172, pp.1-15
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106092
- ISSN
- 1873-7528; 0149-7634
- PMID
- 40057256
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
- Grant note
- This research was funded by the MAIC/UniSC Road Safety Research Collaboration Grant.
- Organisation Unit
- Road Safety Research Collaboration; Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991110927902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Behavioral Sciences
- Neurosciences
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