LAUSR

Previous studies have suggested that chronic cannabis use has been associated with increased blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) response during a response inhibition task; however, these studies primarily included males. We investigated whether gender moderated the effects of cannabis use on BOLD response and behavioral performance during a Go-NoGo task in adolescents and young adults following 2 weeks of monitored abstinence. Participants included 77 16–26-year olds (MJ = 36, controls = 41). An emotion-based Go-NoGo task required participants to inhibit their response during a calm face. A whole-brain analysis looked at differences between cannabis group, gender, and their interaction. Significant greater BOLD responses were observed in cannabis users compared with that in controls in the left frontal cortex, left cingulate cortex, and the left thalamus during correct response inhibitions; gender did not moderate these effects. Supporting previous research, cannabis users showed greater BOLD responses in core areas associated with response inhibition during a Go-NoGo task, even after a minimum of 2 weeks of abstinence.