Modulation of risk-taking in marijuana users by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)
Abstract
Cognitive deficits that are reported in heavy marijuana users (attention, memory, affect perception, decision-making) appear to be completely reversible after a prolonged abstinence period of about 28 days. However, it remains unclear whether the reversibility of these cognitive deficits indicates that (1) chronic marijuana use is not associated with long-lasting changes in cortical networks or (2) that such changes occur but the brain adapts to and compensates for the drug-induced changes. Therefore, we examined whether chronic marijuana smokers would demonstrate a differential pattern of response in comparison to healthy volunteers on a decision-making paradigm (Risk Task) while undergoing sham or active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Twenty-five chronic marijuana users who were abstinent for at least 24h were randomly assigned to receive left anodal/right cathodal tDCS of DLPFC (n=8), right anodal/left cathodal tDCS of DLPFC (n=9), or sham stimulation (n=8); results on Risk Task during sham/active tDCS were compared to healthy volunteers from a previously published dataset. Chronic marijuana users demonstrated more conservative (i.e. less risky) decision-making during sham stimulation. While right anodal stimulation of the DLPFC enhanced conservative decision-making in healthy volunteers, both right anodal and left anodal DLPFC stimulation increased the propensity for risk-taking in marijuana users. These findings reveal alterations in the decision-making neural networks among chronic marijuana users. Finally, we also assessed the effects of tDCS on marijuana craving and observed that right anodal/left cathodal tDCS of DLPFC is significantly associated with a diminished craving for marijuana.
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In healthy people, tDCS alters inhibitory control, planning, delay discounting, and risk taking.
“Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is another promising, low-risk, noninvasive neuromodulation technique that has effects on inhibitory control, planning, delay discounting, and risk taking in healthy individuals (289-291).”
From A brain-centric model of suicidal behavior (2020) · cites this paper as [290]
In cannabis users, right anodal/left cathodal tDCS applied to the DLPFC reduced cannabis craving compared to sham stimulation.
“In cannabis users, right anodal/left cathodal applied to the DLPFC reduced cannabis craving compared to sham stimulation [111].”
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- Authors
- Boggio, P. S., Zaghi, S., Villani, A. B., Fecteau, S., Pascual-Leone, A., & Fregni, F.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (BR)
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Boggio, Paulo S.
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-12
- Volume
- 112
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 220-225
- ISSN
- 0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2136694183
- Cited by
- 197
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 4.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- chronic marijuana use, risk-taking, decision-making, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, transcranial direct current stimulation, cognitive impairment, abstinence, anodal stimulation
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Cannabis, Decision Making, Double-Blind Method, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Marijuana Smoking, Neuropsychological Tests, Risk, Risk-Taking, Prefrontal Cortex
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