Justin D Caouette1, Sarah W Feldstein Ewing1. 1. Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Psychiatry, 3314 SW US Veteran's Hospital Road, M/C DC7P, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Most adolescents begin exploring cannabis in peer contexts, but the neural mechanisms that underlie peer influence on adolescent cannabis use are still unknown. This theoretical overview elucidates the intersecting roles of neural function and peer factors in cannabis use in adolescents. RECENT FINDINGS: Novel paradigms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in adolescents have identified distinct neural mechanisms of risk decision-making and incentive processing in peer contexts, centered on reward-motivation and affect regulatory neural networks; these findings inform a theoretical model of peer-driven cannabis use decisions in adolescents. SUMMARY: We propose four "mechanistic profiles" of social facilitation of cannabis use in adolescents: (1) peer influence as the primary driver of use; (2) cannabis exploration as the primary driver, which may be enhanced in peer contexts; (3) social anxiety; and (4) negative peer experiences. Identification of "neural targets" involved in motivating cannabis use may inform clinicians about which treatment strategies work best in adolescents with cannabis use problems, and via which social and neurocognitive processes.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Most adolescents begin exploring cannabis in peer contexts, but the neural mechanisms that underlie peer influence on adolescent cannabis use are still unknown. This theoretical overview elucidates the intersecting roles of neural function and peer factors in cannabis use in adolescents. RECENT FINDINGS: Novel paradigms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in adolescents have identified distinct neural mechanisms of risk decision-making and incentive processing in peer contexts, centered on reward-motivation and affect regulatory neural networks; these findings inform a theoretical model of peer-driven cannabis use decisions in adolescents. SUMMARY: We propose four "mechanistic profiles" of social facilitation of cannabis use in adolescents: (1) peer influence as the primary driver of use; (2) cannabis exploration as the primary driver, which may be enhanced in peer contexts; (3) social anxiety; and (4) negative peer experiences. Identification of "neural targets" involved in motivating cannabis use may inform clinicians about which treatment strategies work best in adolescents with cannabis use problems, and via which social and neurocognitive processes.
Entities:
Keywords:
adolescence; cannabis use; fMRI; peers; reward sensitivity; social neuroscience
Authors: J N Giedd; J Blumenthal; N O Jeffries; F X Castellanos; H Liu; A Zijdenbos; T Paus; A C Evans; J L Rapoport Journal: Nat Neurosci Date: 1999-10 Impact factor: 24.884
Authors: Shannon J Peake; Thomas J Dishion; Elizabeth A Stormshak; William E Moore; Jennifer H Pfeifer Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2013-05-24 Impact factor: 6.556
Authors: Jennifer A Silvers; Lindsay M Squeglia; Kristine Rømer Thomsen; Karen A Hudson; Sarah W Feldstein Ewing Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2019-03-15 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Sarah W Feldstein Ewing; Sarah L Karalunas; Emily A Kenyon; Manshu Yang; Karen A Hudson; Francesca M Filbey Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Rep Date: 2022-04-01
Authors: Adina S Fischer; Susan F Tapert; Dexter Lee Louie; Alan F Schatzberg; Manpreet K Singh Journal: Curr Treat Options Psychiatry Date: 2020-04-18