Repeated, intermittent delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol administration to rats impairs acquisition and performance of a test of visuospatial divided attention. 2004

Christopher D Verrico, and J David Jentsch, and Robert H Roth, and Jane R Taylor
Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06508, USA.

The residual neuropsychological effects of marijuana abuse in man indicate a dysfunction of the attentional/executive systems. Moreover, experimental investigations suggest that repeated, intermittent (subchronic) Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, alters neurotransmission in the frontal cortex of rats and humans, a key neural site mediating attention and executive functions. In the present studies, the acquisition and performance of a test of visuospatial attention (the lateralized reaction time task) after subchronic THC administration (10.0 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days) was examined. Rats previously administered THC showed impairments in this self-paced version of the classic multiple-choice serial reaction time task, which persisted 14 days after the final drug administration. Longer time points were not examined. These attentional impairments were transiently reversible with an acute amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) challenge. These behavioral data demonstrate that chronic THC administration to rats induces an attentional deficit, similar to that observed in humans who abuse marijuana. Finally, amphetamine's ability to reverse the attentional impairments provides indirect evidence that monoaminergic deficits may be linked to the cognitive dysfunction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011597 Psychomotor Performance The coordination of a sensory or ideational (cognitive) process and a motor activity. Perceptual Motor Performance,Sensory Motor Performance,Visual Motor Coordination,Coordination, Visual Motor,Coordinations, Visual Motor,Motor Coordination, Visual,Motor Coordinations, Visual,Motor Performance, Perceptual,Motor Performance, Sensory,Motor Performances, Perceptual,Motor Performances, Sensory,Perceptual Motor Performances,Performance, Perceptual Motor,Performance, Psychomotor,Performance, Sensory Motor,Performances, Perceptual Motor,Performances, Psychomotor,Performances, Sensory Motor,Psychomotor Performances,Sensory Motor Performances,Visual Motor Coordinations
D003216 Conditioning, Operant Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced. Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001288 Attention Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating. Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D013759 Dronabinol A psychoactive compound extracted from the resin of Cannabis sativa (marihuana, hashish). The isomer delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the most active form, producing characteristic mood and perceptual changes associated with this compound. THC,Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-THC,9-ene-Tetrahydrocannabinol,Marinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6a-trans)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aR-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aS-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-(+-)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-Isomer,delta(1)-THC,delta(1)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,9 ene Tetrahydrocannabinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans Isomer
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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