Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40421881›Full record

SynthesisHuman brain mapping2025

Neurometabolite Alterations Associated With Cannabis Use: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Meta-Analysis.

Anna E Kirkland, Brittney D Browning, ReJoyce Green, Samuel O Agbeh, Lindsay M Squeglia

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Human brain mapping, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Cue-elicited prefrontal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) dynamics in cannabis use disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Anna E KirklandDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5308-2423
Brittney D BrowningDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
ReJoyce GreenDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Samuel O AgbehDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Lindsay M SquegliaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Funding

DRUG ABUSE TRAINING PROGRAMT32DA007288 · NIDA · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI Christopher W Cowan, Rachel Penrod-Martin · 1991 to 2026
$11.8M
Mentoring Clinical Investigators in Patient-Oriented Adolescent Alcohol ResearchK24AA031052 · NIAAA · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI Lindsay Squeglia · 2024 to 2026
$644k
The effects of adolescent alcohol use on oral microbiota and the brainK01AA031745 · NIAAA · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI Anna E Kirkland · 2024 to 2026
$583k
NIAAA NIH HHS K01 AA031745NIAAA NIH HHS K01AA031745NIAAA NIH HHS K24 AA031052NIAAA NIH HHS K24AA031052NIDA NIH HHS T32 DA007288NIDA NIH HHS T32DA007288
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Little is known about the neurometabolic effects of cannabis use. Using meta-analytic modeling of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) studies, this study aimed to assess the differences in brain metabolite levels associated with cannabis use (PROSPERO: CRD42020209890) to inform treatment development for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Hedge's g with random-effects modeling was used, and heterogeneity and publication bias indices were assessed. A complete literature search was conducted, and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria (e.g., 1H-MRS, cannabis group compared to a control group, brain region-specific results, necessary data to complete modeling). There were 29 models across gray matter regions in the brain. All models had between 2 and 5 studies (k), indicating that results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of available studies. Compared to the control groups, the cannabis-using groups showed lower levels of GABA and N-acetylaspartate in the anterior cingulate cortex (k = 3); lower glutamate in the basal ganglia/striatum (k = 2); and lower glutamine and myo-inositol in the thalamus (k = 2; although the two effect sizes came from the same sample). This is the first meta-analysis to consolidate the extant 1H-MRS studies focused on the neurometabolic effects of cannabis. Despite the few studies available, the evidence suggests cannabis use may impact important neural processes, including glutamatergic and GABAergic functioning (glutamate, glutamine, and GABA), neural health (N-acetylaspartate), and glial functioning (myo-inositol). The findings should be interpreted with caution considering the small sample size; the inability to test the impact of demographic, substance use, and methodological factors; and the heterogeneity of studies. Understanding the neurobiological effects of cannabis may inspire novel pharmacotherapy and/or psychosocial interventions for CUD.

Indexed as

BrainGray MatterMarijuana AbuseProton Magnetic Resonance SpectroscopyAspartic Acidgamma-Aminobutyric AcidGlutamic AcidGlutamineHumansInositolAspartic Acidgamma-Aminobutyric AcidGlutamic AcidGlutamineInositolN-acetylaspartatecannabis use disordermeta‐analysisneurometabolitesproton magnetic resonance spectroscopysubstance use disorders

Identifiers

PMID40421881
PMCPMC12107604

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.