Cited by 284Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesPrenatal Substance Exposure Effects

Dare to delay? The impacts of adolescent alcohol and marijuana use onset on cognition, brain structure, and function

Open access
Lisdahl, Krista M., Gilbart, Erika R., Wright, Natasha E., Shollenbarger, Skyler·2013·Frontiers in Psychiatry

Abstract

Throughout the world, drug and alcohol use has a clear adolescent onset (Degenhardt et al., 2008). Alcohol continues to be the most popular drug among teens and emerging adults, with almost a third of 12th graders and 40% of college students reporting recent binge drinking (Johnston et al., 2009, 2010), and marijuana (MJ) is the second most popular drug in teens (Johnston et al., 2010). The initiation of drug use is consistent with an overall increase in risk-taking behaviors during adolescence that coincides with significant neurodevelopmental changes in both gray and white matter (Giedd et al., 1996a; Paus et al., 1999; Sowell et al., 1999, 2002, 2004; Gogtay et al., 2004; Barnea-Goraly et al., 2005; Lenroot and Giedd, 2006). Animal studies have suggested that compared to adults, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of drugs, especially alcohol and MJ (see Schneider and Koch, 2003; Barron et al., 2005; Monti et al., 2005; Cha et al., 2006; Rubino et al., 2009; Spear, 2010). In this review, we will provide a detailed overview of studies that examined the impact of early adolescent onset of alcohol and MJ use on neurocognition (e.g., Ehrenreich et al., 1999; Wilson et al., 2000; Tapert et al., 2002a; Hartley et al., 2004; Fried et al., 2005; Townshend and Duka, 2005; Medina et al., 2007a; McQueeny et al., 2009; Gruber et al., 2011, 2012; Hanson et al., 2011; Lisdahl and Price, 2012), with a special emphasis on recent prospective longitudinal studies (e.g., White et al., 2011; Hicks et al., 2012; Meier et al., 2012). Finally, we will explore potential clinical and public health implications of these findings.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This narrative review synthesizes human and animal evidence on whether adolescent-onset alcohol and marijuana use produces worse neurocognitive, structural, and functional brain outcomes than adult-onset use. It concludes that early onset (before ~18) is associated with the greatest deficits, that some recovery may occur with sustained abstinence, and that delaying onset should be a public health priority.

Key findings

  • Earlier alcohol use onset is linked to worse outcomes: DeWit et al. (2000) reported the odds of developing lifetime alcohol dependence increase by 14% with each increasing year of AUO; Hicks et al. (2012) found early AUO uniquely predicted lack of maturation in behavioral disinhibition, while adolescents who stopped drinking showed recovery in disinhibition and negative emotionality.
  • Binge drinking in otherwise healthy teens/emerging adults is associated with cognitive deficits (sustained attention, memory, spatial working memory, psychomotor speed, response inhibition) and brain changes, including reduced white matter integrity (McQueeny et al., 2009) and reduced bilateral cerebellar gray/white matter volume predicted by greater drinks per binge (Lisdahl et al., 2013).
  • Earlier marijuana use onset (typically before 16–18) is associated with more severe consequences: Fontes et al. (2011) found early-onset users (n = 49) had poorer sustained attention, cognitive inhibition, and abstract reasoning than late-onset users (n = 55); Meier et al. (2012) found adolescent-onset users in a 1,037-person birth cohort dropped from childhood "average" to adult "low-average" full-scale IQ and never returned to their predicted IQ trajectory even with sustained abstinence.
  • Structural/functional findings include reduced hippocampal and PFC volumes in adolescent AUD, reduced PFC cortical thickness and white matter integrity with earlier MJ onset, and abnormal (often compensatory) activation patterns that appear to falter with heavier use.

Methods

  • Narrative review (not a systematic review or meta-analysis) covering neuropsychological, structural (MRI/DTI/MRS), and functional (fMRI/ERP/EEG/PET) studies of adolescent and emerging-adult alcohol and marijuana use, with emphasis on prospective longitudinal studies (e.g., White et al., 2011; Hicks et al., 2012; Meier et al., 2012).
  • Includes a summary table (Table 1) organizing human studies by cognitive, structural, or functional consequences and by whether teenage onset was associated with worse outcome.
  • No primary data collection; the paper synthesizes published findings and cites specific sample sizes from the reviewed studies.

Limitations

  • Stated by the paper: it is difficult to determine whether brain and cognitive abnormalities predated drug onset, since risk factors for early experimentation (poor cognitive inhibition, attention problems, conduct disorder, family history of SUD) are themselves related to subtle cognitive/brain abnormalities; additional longitudinal research in teens prior to exposure is needed.
  • Stated by the paper: there is even less research on whether sustained abstinence produces recovery of cognitive function, and it remains unclear whether complete recovery occurs or whether the neurocognitive trajectory is subtly altered into adulthood.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not systematically quantify effect sizes or assess study quality/bias; many cited studies are cross-sectional, and several key findings rest on small samples (e.g., Gruber et al., 2012: n = 9 early-onset, n = 14 late-onset; Lopez-Larson et al., 2011: 18 MJ users).

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00053

Cites

209 of 209 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

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  • Findingcitation

    In the authors' binge-drinking sample, increased abstinence was associated with larger bilateral cerebellar volumes.

    “In our binge-drinking sample, increased abstinence was associated with larger bilateral cerebellar volumes (Lisdahl et al., 2013).”
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    • cites Lisdahl et al., 2013

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  • Premisecitation

    Throughout the world, drug and alcohol use has a clear adolescent onset.

    “Throughout the world, drug and alcohol use has a clear adolescent onset (Degenhardt et al., 2008).”
    • Also stated in: § Introduction · boosted
      “Throughout the world, drug and alcohol use has a clear adolescent onset (Degenhardt et al., 2008).”
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    • cites Degenhardt et al., 2008

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  • Premisecitation

    Brain regions associated with executive functioning, including the prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, and cerebellum, continue to undergo gray matter synaptic pruning into the mid-20s.

    “Brain regions associated with executive functioning (e.g., problem solving, planning, working memory, and emotional regulation), including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), parietal cortex, and cerebellum, continue to undergo gray matter synaptic pruning into the mid-20s (Giedd et al., 1996a; Sowell et al., 1999, 2002, 2004; Gogtay et al., 2004; Lenroot and Giedd, 2006).”
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    • cites Giedd et al., 1996a

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    • cites Sowell et al., 1999

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    • cites Gogtay et al., 2004

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  • Premisecitation

    Compared to adults, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of drugs, especially alcohol and marijuana.

    “Animal studies have suggested that compared to adults, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of drugs, especially alcohol and MJ (see Schneider and Koch, 2003; Barron et al., 2005; Monti et al., 2005; Cha et al., 2006; Rubino et al., 2009; Spear, 2010).”
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    • cites Schneider and Koch, 2003

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    • cites Barron et al., 2005

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    • cites Monti et al., 2005

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    • Rests on an assumption: Findings from animal studies of adolescent neurotoxicity are relevant to human adolescents.
  • Interpretationreasoning

    This neuromaturation may represent a sensitive period during which exposure to drugs may have a greater impact on neurocognition compared to adult exposure.

    “This neuromaturation may represent a sensitive period during which exposure to drugs may have a greater impact on neurocognition compared to adult exposure.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
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    Premisecitation

    Emerging adult alcohol use onset (before 22-25 years old) is associated with increased childhood behavioral problems, impulsivity, poor decision-making, increased mood disorders, aggressiveness, severity of substance-use problems, more rapid progression from regular drinking to AUD, unique patterns of cerebral blood flow in the PFC, hyperarousal and poor sensorimotor gating, and increased comorbd.

    “Research examining this typology has revealed that emerging adult AUO (<22–25 years old) is associated with increased childhood behavioral problems, impulsivity, poor decision-making, increased mood disorders, aggressiveness, severity of substance-use problems, more rapid progression from regular drinking to AUD, unique patterns of cerebral blood flow in the PFC, hyperarousal and poor sensorimotor”
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    • cites Varma et al., 1994

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    • cites Johnson et al., 2000

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    • cites Demir et al., 2002

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    There are gender differences in the timing and rate of neurodevelopment.

    “It should also be noted that there are gender differences in the timing and rate of neurodevelopment (see Lenroot and Giedd, 2010 for review).”
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    • cites Lenroot and Giedd, 2010

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    Premisecitation

    White matter volume and integrity increases into the early thirties, yielding improvements in efficient neural conductivity.

    “White matter volume and integrity increases into the early thirties, yielding improvements in efficient neural conductivity (Giedd et al., 1999; Paus et al., 1999; Barnea-Goraly et al., 2005; Jernigan and Gamst, 2005; Nagel et al., 2006).”
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    • cites Giedd et al., 1999

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    • cites Paus et al., 1999

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    • cites Barnea-Goraly et al., 2005

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    Premisecitation

    Adolescence is marked by increased risk-taking behaviors including substance use that coincide with significant neurodevelopmental changes.

    “Adolescence is a dynamic time marked by increased risk-taking behaviors including substance use (Spear, 2000; Gardener and Steinberg, 2005; Eaton et al., 2006; Casey et al., 2008) that coincide with significant neurodevelopmental changes.”
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    • cites Spear, 2000

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    • cites Gardener and Steinberg, 2005

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    • cites Eaton et al., 2006

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted). May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Prefrontal cortex dysfunction places individuals at risk for early substance use and early alcohol use onset further disrupts PFC development, defining a sensitive period for increased neurocognitive effects in adolescents with AUD.

    “Therefore, it has been hypothesized that PFC dysfunction places individuals at risk for early substance use and early AUO further disrupts PFC development, defining a sensitive period for increased neurocognitive effects in adolescents with AUD.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Adolescent marijuana users who abstained for a minimum of 3 months did not demonstrate any cognitive deficits compared to controls.

    “although another study found that adolescent MJ users who abstained for a minimum of 3 months did not demonstrate any cognitive deficits compared to controls (Fried et al., 2005)”
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    • cites Fried et al., 2005

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    Interpretationcitation

    During initial marijuana exposure the brain may successfully compensate by recruiting additional neuronal resources, although this compensation may falter with more problematic and increased marijuana use patterns.

    “These findings suggests that during initial MJ exposure the brain may successfully compensate by recruiting additional neuronal resources, although this compensation may falter with more problematic and increased MJ use patterns.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Tapert et al., 2007

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    • cites Schweinsburg et al., 2008

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    • cites Harding et al., 2012

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Both intermittent binge drinking and the development of alcohol use disorder can result in significant cognitive, structural, and functional brain changes in both male and female adolescents and emerging adults.

    “Taken together, these studies suggest that both intermittent binge drinking and the development of AUD can result in significant cognitive, structural, and functional brain changes in both male and female adolescents and emerging adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These structural changes have been associated with poor neuronal efficiency and poorer cognitive functioning, especially psychomotor speed, executive functioning, emotional control, and learning and memory, even after a month of monitored abstinence.

    “These changes have been associated with poor neuronal efficiency and poorer cognitive functioning, especially psychomotor speed, executive functioning, emotional control, and learning and memory, even after a month of monitored abstinence.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Premisecitation

    Binge drinking in otherwise healthy teens and emerging adults is associated with cognitive deficits including poorer sustained attention, memory, spatial working memory, psychomotor speed, working memory, perseverative responding, and response inhibition and rule acquisition in females.

    “Thus far, those studies have reported cognitive deficits associated with binge drinking in otherwise healthy teens and emerging adults”
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    • cites Hartley et al., 2004

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    • cites Scaife and Duka, 2009

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    • cites Parada et al., 2011

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    Interpretationcitation

    Adolescents who stopped drinking had significant recovery in both behavioral disinhibition and negative emotionality, suggesting potential recovery of PFC function with abstinence.

    “Further, this study found that adolescents who stopped drinking had significant recovery in both behavioral disinhibition and negative emotionality (Hicks et al., 2012), suggesting potential recovery of PFC function with abstinence.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hicks et al., 2012

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  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescent marijuana use onset demonstrated the most robust change in IQ, dropping from childhood "average" to adult "low-average" full-scale IQ, and never achieved their predicted trajectory in IQ even with sustained abstinence in adulthood.

    “After matching for total number of MJ dependence symptoms, the adolescent MUO demonstrated the most robust change in IQ, who as a group demonstrated a drop from childhood “average” to adult “low-average” full-scale IQ.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Meier et al., 2012

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    Premisecitation

    Activity and cardiorespiratory fitness have positive effects on brain health and neuronal plasticity in humans, although the vast majority of studies have been conducted in older adults.

    “Several human studies have concluded that activity and cardiorespiratory fitness have positive effects on brain health and neuronal plasticity, although the vast majority of the studies have been conducted in older adults (Brisswalter et al., 2002; Cotman and Berchtold, 2002; Colcombe and Kramer, 2003; Colcombe et al., 2004, 2006; Heyn et al., 2004; Kramer and Erickson, 2007; Boecker et al., 2008;”
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    • cites Brisswalter et al., 2002

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    • cites Cotman and Berchtold, 2002

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    • cites Colcombe and Kramer, 2003

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    The sensitive period of adolescence is associated with the onset of binge drinking and marijuana use, which negatively impacts cognition, brain structure, and function in otherwise healthy teens and young adults.

    “However, this sensitive period is also associated with the onset of binge drinking and MJ use, which negatively impacts cognition, brain structure, and function in otherwise healthy teens and young adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Heavy teenage alcohol and marijuana use may disrupt brain function, leading to inefficient neuronal activation early on and diminished activation with continued heavy use into emerging adulthood.

    “Evidence is also mounting that heavy teenage alcohol and MJ use may disrupt brain function, leading to inefficient neuronal activation early on and diminished activation with continued heavy use into emerging adulthood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Higher-order executive functioning or brain structure were not measured in the meta-analyses of activity effects in adolescents.

    “however, higher-order executive functioning or brain structure were not measured.”
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    • cites Etnier et al., 1997

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    • cites Sibley and Etnier, 2003

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Alarming numbers of adolescents and emerging adults regularly binge drink and use marijuana.

    “Alarming numbers of adolescents and emerging adults regularly binge drink and use MJ (Johnston et al., 2009, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Johnston et al., 2009, 2010

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    Premisecitation

    Physical activity is associated with improved mood, decreased drug use, and increased grade point in adolescents.

    “Although research has shown that physical activity is associated with improved mood, decreased drug use, and increased grade point in adolescents (Winnail et al., 1995; Field et al., 2001; Audrain-McGovern et al., 2006)”
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    • cites Winnail et al., 1995

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    • cites Field et al., 2001

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    • cites Audrain-McGovern et al., 2006

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Substance-induced cognitive disadvantage may lead to lower than expected school performance, increased school problems, risky decision-making, and poorer emotional regulation.

    “Indeed, researchers have found that substance-induced cognitive disadvantage may lead to lower than expected school performance, increased school problems, risky decision-making, and poorer emotional regulation (Lynskey and Hall, 2000; Medina et al., 2007a; Kloos et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lynskey and Hall, 2000

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    • cites Medina et al., 2007a

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    • cites Kloos et al., 2009

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    Premisecitation

    Brief interventions to increase exercise may help reduce drug use and increase physical activity in adolescents.

    “and brief interventions to increase exercise may help reduce drug use and increase physical activity in adolescents (Werch et al., 2005).”
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    • cites Werch et al., 2005

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Binge drinking, alcohol use disorder, and chronic marijuana use during the teenage and early adult years result in gray and white matter micro- and macro-structural abnormalities that are often correlated with cognitive deficits.

    “This review paper outlined several studies that suggest binge drinking, AUD, and chronic MJ use during the teenage and early adult years results in gray and white matter micro- and macro-structural abnormalities that are oftentimes correlated with cognitive deficits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from animal studies of adolescent neurotoxicity are relevant to human adolescents.

    “Animal studies have suggested that compared to adults, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of drugs, especially alcohol and MJ (see Schneider and Koch, 2003; Barron et al., 2005; Monti et al., 2005; Cha et al., 2006; Rubino et al., 2009; Spear, 2010).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Very few studies have directly examined the neurocognitive benefits of physical activity in adolescents.

    “very few studies have directly examined the neurocognitive benefits of physical activity in adolescents.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No systematic individualized feedback programs have integrated information regarding the effects of drugs on neurocognition.

    “To date, however, no systematic individualized feedback programs have integrated information regarding the effects of drugs on neurocognition.”
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Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Amygdala and insula activation directions conflict

    Minor

    The prose describes blunted amygdala and insula activity in the cited binge-drinking studies, but Table 1 reports increased activity in both regions for Xiao et al. (2012).

  • Binge-drinking latency change has opposite directions

    Minor

    The prose says P1, N2, and P3b latencies showed increasing delays, whereas Table 1 lists decreased latency for the same study.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Tapert S. F. Brown S. A. (1999). Neuropsychological correlates of adolescent substance abuse: four year outcomes. J. Int. Neuropsychol. Soc. 5, 481– 493 10.1017/S1355617799566010 10561928 · DOI

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Lisdahl, K. M., Gilbart, E. R., Wright, N. E., & Shollenbarger, S.
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (US)
Corresponding author
Lisdahl, Krista M.
Venue
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Published
2013
Volume
4
Pages
53-53
ISSN
1664-0640 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2057094779
Cited by
284
References
209
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 1
FWCI
18.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA030354)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
Keywords
adolescent alcohol use, adolescent cannabis use, neurocognitive function, brain structure, brain function, brain development, neurotoxicity, binge drinking, white matter, gray matter

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