Cannabis Affects Male and Female Brains Differently on Cognitive Tests
Among 171 regular cannabis users aged 13-25, males showed poorer visual memory while females had worse attention and executive function, suggesting sex-specific cognitive vulnerabilities.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Male cannabis users had poorer visual recognition memory while female users showed worse attention and executive functioning (medium to large effect sizes), with earlier initiation and heavier use more strongly linked to attention deficits in females and memory/learning deficits in males.
Key Numbers
171 participants; 46.2% female; aged 13-25; medium to large effect sizes for sex differences; earlier initiation associated with worse attention in females but not males; heavier use linked to worse episodic memory and learning in males.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 171 at-least-weekly cannabis users aged 13-25 (46.2% female) using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), controlling for age, IQ, alcohol, nicotine, mood, and impulsivity.
Why This Research Matters
If cannabis affects cognitive domains differently by sex, prevention messaging and clinical monitoring may need to be tailored rather than one-size-fits-all.
The Bigger Picture
These domain-specific sex differences in cannabis-related cognitive effects mirror broader neuroscience findings about sex differences in brain development during adolescence, suggesting cannabis may interact with sex-specific developmental trajectories.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
No healthy control group for comparison; cross-sectional design prevents causal inference; cannot determine if sex differences are more pronounced than in non-users; potential selection bias.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do these sex-specific cognitive differences persist after sustained abstinence?
- ?Would including a control group reveal whether cannabis exaggerates pre-existing sex differences in cognition?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Earlier cannabis initiation was linked to worse attention in females but not males
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate-sized cross-sectional study with validated cognitive testing battery, limited by lack of control group and cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 with participants aged 13-25.
- Original Title:
- Sex Differences in Neuropsychological Functioning are Domain-Specific in Adolescent and Young Adult Regular Cannabis Users.
- Published In:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS, 27(6), 592-606 (2021)
- Authors:
- Savulich, George, Rychik, Natali(2), Lamberth, Erin(2), Hareli, Maya, Evins, A Eden, Sahakian, Barbara J, Schuster, Randi M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03497
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis affect boys and girls differently?
In this study of 171 regular users aged 13-25, males showed poorer visual memory while females had worse attention and executive function, suggesting the cognitive effects of cannabis differ by sex.
Does starting younger make the effects worse?
For females, earlier age of first use was associated with worse attentional function. For males, heavier use was more strongly linked to memory and learning deficits.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03497APA
Savulich, George; Rychik, Natali; Lamberth, Erin; Hareli, Maya; Evins, A Eden; Sahakian, Barbara J; Schuster, Randi M. (2021). Sex Differences in Neuropsychological Functioning are Domain-Specific in Adolescent and Young Adult Regular Cannabis Users.. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS, 27(6), 592-606. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617720001435
MLA
Savulich, George, et al. "Sex Differences in Neuropsychological Functioning are Domain-Specific in Adolescent and Young Adult Regular Cannabis Users.." Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617720001435
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Sex Differences in Neuropsychological Functioning are Domain..." RTHC-03497. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/savulich-2021-sex-differences-in-neuropsychological
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.