REWARD LEARNING CAPACITY IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO USE CANNABIS

Abstract

Rationale: Cannabis use has been related to poor psychosocial and socioeconomic outcomes, which may be due, in part, to impairments in forming non-drug reward associations. However, few studies have objectively evaluated reward learning in cannabis use populations. Purpose: To investigate reward learning capacity in a community sample of individuals who use recreational cannabis, using the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT), and to evaluate performance in relation to cannabis use characteristics. Methods: Thirty-eight individuals who use cannabis and 34 control participants completed the PRT, in which reward learning was evidenced by the development of a response bias toward the more frequently rewarded stimulus. Relationships between response bias and cannabis use characteristics were explored (e.g., frequency, chronicity, potency) along with comorbid psychiatric symptoms (i.e., depression). Results: Both cannabis and control groups developed a response bias across 3 blocks of the PRT. No group differences in response bias emerged, however, in the cannabis group, there was a trend for lower response bias in relation to greater chronicity and self-reported potency. Conclusion: The results suggest that a community sample characterized by a range of cannabis use patterns, are not impaired in the ability to form non-drug related reward associations, although deficits may emerge with greater severity of use. These findings are important in supporting therapeutic approaches where forming reward associations outside of cannabis use are imperative, as well as informing public awareness and policy around cannabis use patterns.