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Abnormal maximal finger tapping in abstinent cannabis users
Author(s) -
Flavel Stanley C.,
White Jason M.,
Todd Gabrielle
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2351
Subject(s) - cannabis , finger tapping , tapping , effects of cannabis , audiology , index finger , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , management , cannabidiol , economics , anatomy
Objective To investigate movement speed and rhythmicity in abstinent cannabis users, we hypothesized that abstinent cannabis users exhibit decreased maximal finger tapping frequency and increased variability of tapping compared with non‐drug users. Methods The study involved 10 healthy adult cannabis users and 10 age‐matched and gender‐matched controls with no history of illicit drug use. Subjects underwent a series of screening tests prior to participation. Subjects were then asked to tap a strain gauge as fast as possible with the index finger of their dominant hand (duration 5 s). Results The average intertap interval did not significantly differ between groups, but the coefficient of variation of the intertap interval was significantly greater in the cannabis group than in controls ( p = 0.011). The cannabis group also exhibited a slow tapping frequency at the beginning of the task. Conclusions Rhythmicity of finger tapping is abnormal in individuals with a history of cannabis use. The abnormality appears to be long lasting and adds to the list of functional changes present in abstinent cannabis users. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.