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ERP studies of acute influences of THC and CBD on memory encoding and retrieval processes

Award Number: R01DA052431
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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ERP studies of acute influences of THC and CBD on memory encoding and retrieval processes - Project Summary Previous research has documented acute harmful effects of cannabis use on verbal episodic memory, but prior work has not sufficiently considered that the memory effects of cannabis are the compound action of different cannabinoids acting on different memory processes. Specifically, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic component of cannabis (doesn’t produce a “high”), is thought to have cognitively protective properties and may mitigate some harmful effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Preliminary data, including our own, suggest that THC and CBD render differential effects on memory. Further, few prior studies have tested high potency strains that are commonly available. Our global hypothesis is that the effects of cannabis on memory vary as a function of the ratio of CBD to THC, with THC having adverse effects that may be counteracted by CBD. The goal of this study is to test the effects of three real-world commercially available cannabis strains that differ markedly in their ratio of CBD to THC. To that end, we will test the effects of -THC/+CBD (0% THC/16% CBD), +THC/-CBD (16% THC/0% CBD), and +THC/+CBD (16% THC/16% CBD) strains on recognition memory as well as event-related brain potentials (ERPs) that have previously been found to be related to different underlying memory processes. We use a naturalistic observational design in which each participant will complete the same memory task while intoxicated one day and not intoxicated another day (order counterbalanced). Aim 1 (Experiment 1) will assess recognition memory performance and memory-related ERP components in cannabis users after self-administration of one of three randomly assigned cannabis strains (+THC/-CBD vs. -THC/+CBD vs. +THC/+CBD) during both memory encoding (learning) and memory retrieval. Aims 2 and 3 will dissociate the effects of cannabis on memory encoding vs. retrieval processes. The effects of the three strains will be tested when users are acutely intoxicated only during memory retrieval (Aim 2, Experiment 2) or when users are intoxicated only during memory encoding (Aim 3, Experiment 3). We hypothesize a step wise effect of strain in each experiment such that the +THC/-CBD group will demonstrate the largest decrement in memory accuracy, as compared to the +THC/+CBD group, which will show a larger memory decrement than the -THC/+CBD group. In addition to strain assignment, CBD and THC blood levels will also be tested in relation to memory accuracy, with greater CBD/THC levels associated with higher/lower memory accuracy. We further predict that memory-related ERP components recorded during encoding and retrieval will show strain and blood level effects paralleling accuracy, with variations in these effects indicating the relative influences on different memory subprocesses (encoding, familiarity, recollection, post-retrieval monitoring). This study is critical in today’s climate of rapid legal changes and increased cannabis use for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Timely and accurate data on the impact of real-world cannabis on memory processes is critical in order to reduce the harms and identify the benefits of widespread legalization.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $622,598 )
2025	2025	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	5	5/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$622,598
														Subtotal = $622,598

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $637,844 )
2024	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	4	5/20/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$637,844
														Subtotal = $637,844

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $648,267 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	5/19/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$648,267
														Subtotal = $648,267

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $653,432 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	5/18/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$653,432
														Subtotal = $653,432

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $611,542 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	7/30/2021	NEW	$611,542
														Subtotal = $611,542

Grand Total All Awards = $3,173,683

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ERP studies of acute influences of THC and CBD on memory encoding and retrieval processes

Award Number: R01DA052431

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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