??9Tetrahydrocannabinol impairs reversal learning but not extra-dimensional shifts in rhesus macaques

摘要

Expansion of medical marijuana use in the US and the recently successful decriminalization of recreational marijuana in two States elevates interest in the specific cognitive effects of ??9tetrahydrocannabinol (??9THC), the major psychoactive constituent of marijuana. Controlled laboratory studies in nonhuman primates provide mixed evidence for specific effects of ??9THC in learning and memory tasks, with a suggestion that frontal-mediated tasks may be the most sensitive. In this study, adult male rhesus monkeys were trained on tasks which assess reversal learning, extradimensional attentional shift learning and spatial delayed-response. Subjects were challenged with 0.1-0.5mg/kg ??9THC, i.m., in randomized order and evaluated on the behavioral measures. Peak plasma levels of ??9THC were observed 30min after 0.2mg/kg (69??29ng/ml) and 60min after 0.5mg/kg (121??23ng/ml) was administered and behavioral effects on a bimanual motor task persisted for up to 2h after injection. An increase in errors-to-criterion (ETC) associated with reversal learning was further increased by ??9THC in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in ETC associated with extradimensional shifts was not affected by ??9THC. Spatial delayed-response performance was impaired by ??9THC in a retention-interval-dependent manner. Overall the pattern of results suggests a more profound effect of ??9THC on tasks mediated by orbitofrontal (reversal learning) versus dorsolateral (extradimensional shifts) prefrontal mechanisms. ? 2013 IBRO.