High doses of CBG impaired sustained attention in female rats but not males, despite marketing claims of cognitive enhancement
In rats given oral CBG at doses up to 600 mg/kg, females showed attention deficits at the highest doses while males were unaffected, and females had significantly higher blood levels of CBG than males.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBG at 300-600 mg/kg impaired sustained attention in female rats but not males. CBG did not affect motivation or working memory in either sex. Females had significantly higher circulating CBG plasma levels than males after the same oral dose.
Key Numbers
Doses: 30-600 mg/kg oral. Attention deficits at 300-600 mg/kg in females only. No effects on motivation or working memory. Females had significantly higher plasma CBG levels than males.
How They Did This
Male and female adult Sprague Dawley rats received oral CBG (30-600 mg/kg) or vehicle before testing on rodent psychomotor vigilance (attention), progressive ratio responding (motivation), and spontaneous alternation (working memory). Blood collected 60 minutes post-administration for plasma CBG levels.
Why This Research Matters
CBG is increasingly marketed as a cognitive enhancer for focus and attention. This is the first controlled study to test those claims, and it found the opposite: high-dose CBG impaired attention in females.
The Bigger Picture
The cannabis supplement market makes unsubstantiated cognitive enhancement claims. This study shows minor cannabinoids may have sex-specific effects and that higher doses do not necessarily mean better outcomes.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Animal study; rat doses may not directly translate to human doses. Acute dosing only. The attention deficit was only at very high doses.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do females absorb more CBG?
- ?Would lower, human-comparable doses also affect attention?
- ?Could the sex difference be relevant to human CBG users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Attention deficits at 300-600 mg/kg in females only; females had higher plasma CBG levels
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-controlled animal study with multiple behavioral measures and pharmacokinetic data, but rat findings require human confirmation.
- Study Age:
- 2026 publication
- Original Title:
- High doses of orally administered cannabigerol produce deficits in sustained attention in female rats.
- Published In:
- Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 260, 174154 (2026)
- Authors:
- Moore, Catherine F(6), Bergeria, Cecilia L(7), Sempio, Cristina(20), Klawitter, Jost, Christians, Uwe, Weerts, Elise M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08504
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBG improve focus and attention?
Despite marketing claims, this study found the opposite at high doses in female rats. No cognitive benefits were observed at any dose in either sex.
Why were females more affected?
Females had significantly higher CBG blood levels after the same dose, likely due to differences in metabolism or body composition.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08504APA
Moore, Catherine F; Bergeria, Cecilia L; Sempio, Cristina; Klawitter, Jost; Christians, Uwe; Weerts, Elise M. (2026). High doses of orally administered cannabigerol produce deficits in sustained attention in female rats.. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 260, 174154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2026.174154
MLA
Moore, Catherine F, et al. "High doses of orally administered cannabigerol produce deficits in sustained attention in female rats.." Pharmacology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2026.174154
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "High doses of orally administered cannabigerol produce defic..." RTHC-08504. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/moore-2026-high-doses-of-orally
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.