Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Cannabis is commonly used in the United States. However, chronic cannabis use has been linked to alterations in white matter (WM) integrity. Studies investigating WM in people who use cannabis (PWC) have produced varying results, which may be due to a variety of factors, including a focus on individual WM tracts. Here, we examined WM connectivity using a module-based approach to help clarify whether cannabis use is associated with differences in WM organization.
METHODS: Connectomics is used to map complex networks of inter and intra-connected cortical and subcortical regions. A key concept of brain organization is the presence of groups of densely interconnected regions, referred to as modules. Here, we used WM structural connectivity estimates to compare connectome organization between adults who used cannabis regularly (n=53), and adults who did not use cannabis (n=60). We quantified aspects of network organization both across the whole brain and within specific modules.
RESULTS: There were no significant results between groups after correcting for multiple comparisons for whole-brain metrics. When considering group differences in network organization metrics for 10 identified modules, we observed that adult PWC showed higher within-module degree, local efficiency, and network strength in a right subcortical module relative to adults that did not use cannabis.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cannabis use in adults is associated with alterations of subcortical WM network organization. The observed differences in WM organization may be due to the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the alteration of WM growth processes.
METHODS: Connectomics is used to map complex networks of inter and intra-connected cortical and subcortical regions. A key concept of brain organization is the presence of groups of densely interconnected regions, referred to as modules. Here, we used WM structural connectivity estimates to compare connectome organization between adults who used cannabis regularly (n=53), and adults who did not use cannabis (n=60). We quantified aspects of network organization both across the whole brain and within specific modules.
RESULTS: There were no significant results between groups after correcting for multiple comparisons for whole-brain metrics. When considering group differences in network organization metrics for 10 identified modules, we observed that adult PWC showed higher within-module degree, local efficiency, and network strength in a right subcortical module relative to adults that did not use cannabis.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cannabis use in adults is associated with alterations of subcortical WM network organization. The observed differences in WM organization may be due to the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the alteration of WM growth processes.
摘要：
背景：大麻在美国通常使用。然而,长期使用大麻与白质（WM）完整性的改变有关。在使用大麻（PWC）的人群中调查WM的研究产生了不同的结果，这可能是由于各种因素，包括对单个WM区域的关注。这里,我们使用基于模块的方法检查了WM连通性,以帮助澄清大麻使用是否与WM组织差异相关.
方法：Connectomics用于映射内部和内部连接的皮层和皮层下区域的复杂网络。大脑组织的一个关键概念是存在密集互连区域的群体，称为模块。这里,我们使用WM结构连通性估计来比较经常使用大麻的成年人之间的连接组组织（n=53），和不使用大麻的成年人（n=60）。我们量化了整个大脑和特定模块中网络组织的各个方面。
结果：校正全脑指标的多重比较后，组间无显著结果。当考虑10个已识别模块的网络组织度量的组差异时，我们观察到成人PWC显示出较高的模块内学位，本地效率，与未使用大麻的成年人相比，右侧皮质下模块的网络强度。
结论：这些结果表明，成人使用大麻与皮质下WM网络组织的改变有关。观察到的WM组织差异可能是由于内源性大麻素系统参与了WM生长过程的改变。
方法：Connectomics用于映射内部和内部连接的皮层和皮层下区域的复杂网络。大脑组织的一个关键概念是存在密集互连区域的群体，称为模块。这里,我们使用WM结构连通性估计来比较经常使用大麻的成年人之间的连接组组织（n=53），和不使用大麻的成年人（n=60）。我们量化了整个大脑和特定模块中网络组织的各个方面。
结果：校正全脑指标的多重比较后，组间无显著结果。当考虑10个已识别模块的网络组织度量的组差异时，我们观察到成人PWC显示出较高的模块内学位，本地效率，与未使用大麻的成年人相比，右侧皮质下模块的网络强度。
结论：这些结果表明，成人使用大麻与皮质下WM网络组织的改变有关。观察到的WM组织差异可能是由于内源性大麻素系统参与了WM生长过程的改变。
