The effects of cannabidiol on impulsivity and memory during abstinence in cigarette dependent smokers

Abstract

Acute nicotine abstinence in cigarette smokers results in deficits in performance on specific cognitive processes, including working memory and impulsivity which are important in relapse. Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis, has shown pro-cognitive effects and preliminary evidence has indicated it can reduce the number of cigarettes smoked in dependent smokers. However, the effects of CBD on cognition have never been tested during acute nicotine withdrawal. The present study therefore aimed to investigate if CBD can improve memory and reduce impulsivity during acute tobacco abstinence. Thirty, non-treatment seeking, dependent, cigarette smokers attended two laboratory-based sessions after overnight abstinence, in which they received either 800 mg oral CBD or placebo (PBO), in a randomised order. Abstinence was biologically verified. Participants were assessed on go/no-go, delay discounting, prose recall and N-back (0-back, 1-back, 2-back) tasks. The effects of CBD on delay discounting, prose recall and the N-back (correct responses, maintenance or manipulation) were null, confirmed by a Bayesian analysis, which found evidence for the null hypothesis. Contrary to our predictions, CBD increased commission errors on the go/no-go task. In conclusion, a single 800 mg dose of CBD does not improve verbal or spatial working memory, or impulsivity during tobacco abstinence.

Anti-inflammatory agents for smoking cessation? Focus on cognitive deficits associated with nicotine withdrawal in male mice

“…Interestingly, preliminary findings in humans show that cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption (Morgan et al, 2013), and pleasantness of cigarette cues after overnight abstinence (Hindocha et al, 2018a) in tobacco smokers. In contrast, a recent study has shown that acute administration of a single dose of cannabidiol did not improve memory performance in tasks previously shown to be impaired during cigarette abstinence (Hindocha et al, 2018b). The effects of repeated administration of different doses of cannabidiol on cognition should be evaluated in dependent smokers (Hindocha et al, 2018b), considering the bell-shaped dose response effects widely reported for this compound and higher effectiveness usually revealed after repeated administration (Zuardi et al, 2017).…”

Cannabidiol reverses attentional bias to cigarette cues in a human experimental model of tobacco withdrawal

“…A detailed schedule of assessments can be found in Supporting information, Table S1. Other assessments are reported elsewhere . All participants provided written informed consent.…”

Cannabidiol Treatment Might Promote Resilience to Cocaine and Methamphetamine Use Disorders: A Review of Possible Mechanisms

“…In cigarette smokers, acute nicotine abstinence also produced deficits in verbal and spatial working memory and impulsivity (go/no-go, delay discounting, prose recall and N-back tasks). However, conversely to that observed in animal models, such deficits were not reversed by the administration of CBD (800 mg oral) and this compound even increased commission errors on the go/no-go task in comparison to the placebo treatment [115]. Future preclinical and clinical studies should evaluate whether CBD could attenuate the cognitive deficits induced by chronic exposure to cocaine and METH.…”