The social neuroscience of cannabis smoking

[tkadm30]

Are chronic cannabis users less sensitive to negative peer influence? (ie: Bullying, ostracism, etc...)

 

How do chronic cannabis usage influence the mood and behavior?

 

My hypothesis is that long-term cannabis administration may positively influence civilized behavior and fine-tune serotonergic brain circuits connected to behavioral flexibility.

Edited March 23, 2017 by tkadm30

[StringJunky]

Are chronic cannabis users less sensitive to negative peer influence? (ie: Bullying)

 

How do chronic cannabis usage influence the mood and behavior?

 

My hypothesis is that long-term cannabis administration may positively influence civilized behavior and fine-tune serotonergic brain circuits connected to behavioral flexibility.

Now you need to support your hypothesis with evidence because you've posted in a conventional science section that requires such support.

[tkadm30]

Now you need to support your hypothesis with evidence because you've posted in a conventional science section that requires such support.

 

Okay. Here is the supporting evidences:

 

1. http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/young-marijuana-users-show-unique-response-social-rejection-study-finds

 

2. http://www.eurekaselect.com/65967

[swansont]

Are chronic cannabis users less sensitive to negative peer influence? (ie: Bullying, ostracism, etc...)

 

How do chronic cannabis usage influence the mood and behavior?

 

My hypothesis is that long-term cannabis administration may positively influence civilized behavior and fine-tune serotonergic brain circuits connected to behavioral flexibility.

 

 

!

Moderator Note

Which discussion do you wish to pursue? Asking the question or presenting your own hypothesis? You don't get to do both in one thread.

[tkadm30]

 

 

Which discussion do you wish to pursue? Asking the question or presenting your own hypothesis? You don't get to do both in one thread.

 

I'm skeptical about the conclusions of the first article I linked. If cannabis smoking positively influence the mood and behavior, this unique neural response is probably a form of cognitive flexibility.

[swansont]

I'm skeptical about the conclusions of the first article I linked. If cannabis smoking positively influence the mood and behavior, this unique neural response is probably a form of cognitive flexibility.

 

That doesn't answer my question.

[tkadm30]

I would like some inputs on my initial question, please.

[CharonY]

The question is too broad to have any meaningful discussion. The population of chronic cannabis users is broad, and as such they differ in many relevant aspects. Some may be embedded in large social groups, some may be loners. Some may be affluent, some struggling. Some are old some are young. As such each of them would be subject to different kinds of social pressure.

 

There are, however, a lot of studies that show a correlation (though not necessarily a causation) between chronic use and e.g. mild cognitive impairment and poor mental health. There is specifically a strong association between high level chronic use especially among teens and development of schizophrenia and psychosis. However, it is not clear whether it is caused by cannabis use or that people susceptible to psychosis are drawn to cannabis use.

 

Some studies focus on the mechanistic link (e.g. Malone et al Br J Pharmacol 2010) but others look into the societal area. So the first question cannot be answered and the follow-up is just a non sequitur.

[Strange]

 

I'm skeptical about the conclusions of the first article I linked.

 

 

Then why did you present it as evidence?

[tkadm30]

 

 

Then why did you present it as evidence?

 

In my opinion there's evidences that cannabis users may be hardwired to adapt themselves agaisnt negative peer influence, but I reject their conclusions about the neurological basis of immature brain development.

[Lord Antares]

Of course you reject it because you smoke weed. You want to believe only the positive indications about weed smoking.

Why do you cite an article as basis for your statement that it may hardwire people to adapt against negative peer influence, but reject something else that shows a negative effect in the same article?

[tkadm30]

Of course you reject it because you smoke weed. You want to believe only the positive indications about weed smoking.

Why do you cite an article as basis for your statement that it may hardwire people to adapt against negative peer influence, but reject something else that shows a negative effect in the same article?

 

Hmm, I guess the ability to read scientific articles requires balanced criticism as well.

It's not all black or white.

[John Cuthber]

...

My hypothesis is that long-term cannabis administration may positively influence civilized behavior and fine-tune serotonergic brain circuits connected to behavioral flexibility.

As I have pointed out before, the idea that smoking dope fine tunes anything is the sort of think you only believe while smoking.

Seriously, a few billion year's worth of evolution worked to make your brain pretty damned good, and you still think you can improve it by getting stoned?

[Lord Antares]

That makes no sense.

Scientific articles are supposed to be there because their judgement is superior to yours. So saying that you can pick apart a scientific article and decide what's good and what's bad doesn't really hold water.

 

If it was that easy to decide what is correct and what is incorrect in a scientific article, what would be the point of citing one in the first place?

And how did you decide that the first part is correct and the second is incorrect? Because you have a feeling it might be so?

[Strange]

 

Hmm, I guess the ability to read scientific articles requires balanced criticism as well.

It's not all black or white.

 

 

In other words you are going to cherry-pick conclusions you like and reject ones you don't. And ignore the evidence.

 

No surprises there then.

[CharonY]

As I have pointed out before, the idea that smoking dope fine tunes anything is the sort of think you only believe while smoking.

Seriously, a few billion year's worth of evolution worked to make your brain pretty damned good, and you still think you can improve it by getting stoned?

 

Yeah, the same way I fine tune my car with a sledgehammer. It runs faster out of fear.

[John Cuthber]

I don't know many hop heads, but based on a sample of one (Tkadm30) it seems that they have limited social skills in that they are unable to follow local etiquette, For example, by cherry picking data, failing to make his question clear, and ignoring previous information.

Those actions are impolite on a science web page.

[DrP]

An observation of the positive effects on social behaviour. (I might have shared this before)

 

I went to Amsterdam a good few years back with my brother. On the coach there were some 16 to 20 year olds that had been drinking on the ferry and were annoying everyone with their football hooligan style chanting and swearing and general yobbery on the coach. After 2 days in Amsterdam they were the last to be picked up and people started to comment when the bus stopped to get them that the peace was over and we'd have to put up with these yobs again for the drive home..... except when they boarded the bus they were pretty silent, except for a few polite nods, shy smiles and hellos to the old ladies on the bus as they made their way to the back of the bus where they spoke in whispers for the journey home, not making eye contact with anyone. This thoroughly amused everyone on the bus, who thought the transformation was amazing and very positive.

 

Trouble at football matches in Holland when England play away?... not so much. lol.

[tkadm30]

I don't know many hop heads, but based on a sample of one (Tkadm30) it seems that they have limited social skills in that they are unable to follow local etiquette, For example, by cherry picking data, failing to make his question clear, and ignoring previous information.

Those actions are impolite on a science web page.

 

First of all, cannabis smokers are not hop heads. If you care about politeness, why not show the example and calls things respectfully?

 

Second, there's substantial evidences that cannabis users may have enhanced social saliency and interpersonal communication skills: "Human studies have shown that marijuana heightens the saliency of social interactions (1), enhances interpersonal communication (2, 3), and decreases hostile feelings within small social groups (4)."

See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4653148/