Brain Imaging Meta-Analysis Found Cannabis Users Have Reduced Cognitive Control and Increased Reward Activity

Cannabis users showed decreased activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (linked to cognitive control) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (linked to attention). Conversely, increased activation was observed in the striatum (linked to reward processing). These regions co-activated with broader networks, suggesting widespread functional consequences.

Activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies comparing cannabis users to non-users. Ancillary analyses used a large neuroimaging repository to characterize co-activation networks and functionally decode affected regions.

By aggregating across many individual studies, this meta-analysis identifies the most robust brain changes associated with cannabis use: impaired cognitive control and enhanced reward processing. This pattern is consistent with addiction neuroscience models.

The combination of reduced cognitive control and enhanced reward processing creates a neural environment that could maintain cannabis use: heightened reward from cannabis with diminished ability to control use. This pattern is seen across multiple substance use disorders.

Cross-sectional neuroimaging studies cannot determine whether brain changes preceded or followed cannabis use. Heterogeneity in cannabis use patterns across studies. Meta-analytic approach may miss subtle or region-specific effects.