{"id":{"repo_id":"toronto-retro","oai_identifier":"oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/125872"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/toronto-retro/oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/125872","repository":{"repo_id":"toronto-retro","name":"University of Toronto","base_url":"https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Neurostructural, Neurofunctional, and Neurocognitive Correlates of Cannabis Use in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder","abstract":"Adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) have high rates of cannabis use, and cannabis use is associated with increased symptom severity and treatment resistance in BD. However, few studies have examined the association of cannabis use with neurostructure, neurofunction, and/or neurocognition in adolescent BD. As societal perceptions of cannabis benefits are increasing alongside decreasing perception of harm, addressing this gap is imperative. This thesis examines the neurostructural, neurofunctional, and neurocognitive correlates of cannabis use in adolescent BD. The over-arching hypothesis was that cannabis use in adolescents with BD would be associated with brain structure, brain function, and neurocognition. Structural and functional neuroimaging was completed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Vertex-wise analysis revealed significant group effects on brain structure in frontal and parietal regions. Adolescents with BD and cannabis use (BDCB+) exhibited larger volume and surface area (SA) in parietal regions, and smaller thickness in frontal regions, relative to healthy controls (HC) and adolescents with BD and no cannabis use (BDCB−). BDCB− had smaller volume, SA, and thickness in parietal and frontal regions relative to HC. Resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) seed-to-voxel analyses revealed three significant clusters. First, rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens (NAc) seed and left superior parietal lobe was negative in the BDCB- group and positive in the HC group. Second, rsFC between the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) seed and right lateral occipital cortex was positive in the BDCB+ and negative in the BDCB- and HC groups. Finally, rsFC between the right OFC seed and right occipital pole was positive in the BDCB+ group and negative in the BDCB- group. Neurocognition was examined using a computerized automated test battery. There were between-group differences on tests of visuo-spatial working memory and sustained attention. Working memory scores were significantly impaired in BDCB+ relative to HC, and sustained attention was significantly impaired in BDCB- relative to HC. This thesis emphasizes the importance of integrating brain-based research to further elucidate clinical and behavioural attributes that manifest in adolescents with mood disorders. This study is the first step in understanding the brain-based origins of clinically relevant symptoms associated with cannabis use in adolescents with BD.","abstract_html":"Adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) have high rates of cannabis use, and cannabis use is associated with increased symptom severity and treatment resistance in BD. However, few studies have examined the association of cannabis use with neurostructure, neurofunction, and/or neurocognition in adolescent BD. As societal perceptions of cannabis benefits are increasing alongside decreasing perception of harm, addressing this gap is imperative. This thesis examines the neurostructural, neurofunctional, and neurocognitive correlates of cannabis use in adolescent BD. The over-arching hypothesis was that cannabis use in adolescents with BD would be associated with brain structure, brain function, and neurocognition. Structural and functional neuroimaging was completed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Vertex-wise analysis revealed significant group effects on brain structure in frontal and parietal regions. Adolescents with BD and cannabis use (BDCB+) exhibited larger volume and surface area (SA) in parietal regions, and smaller thickness in frontal regions, relative to healthy controls (HC) and adolescents with BD and no cannabis use (BDCB−). BDCB− had smaller volume, SA, and thickness in parietal and frontal regions relative to HC. Resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) seed-to-voxel analyses revealed three significant clusters. First, rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens (NAc) seed and left superior parietal lobe was negative in the BDCB- group and positive in the HC group. Second, rsFC between the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) seed and right lateral occipital cortex was positive in the BDCB+ and negative in the BDCB- and HC groups. Finally, rsFC between the right OFC seed and right occipital pole was positive in the BDCB+ group and negative in the BDCB- group. Neurocognition was examined using a computerized automated test battery. There were between-group differences on tests of visuo-spatial working memory and sustained attention. Working memory scores were significantly impaired in BDCB+ relative to HC, and sustained attention was significantly impaired in BDCB- relative to HC. This thesis emphasizes the importance of integrating brain-based research to further elucidate clinical and behavioural attributes that manifest in adolescents with mood disorders. This study is the first step in understanding the brain-based origins of clinically relevant symptoms associated with cannabis use in adolescents with BD.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sultan, Alysha Anne"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Pharmacology","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Goldstein, Benjamin I"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-11","date_published":"2021-11","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:27:58Z","subjects":["Adolescents","Bipolar Disorder","Cannabis","Neurocognitive","Neurofunctional","Neurostructural"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1807/125872","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Goldstein, Benjamin I"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Pharmacology"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sultan, Alysha Anne"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2021-11"]},{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2022-11-29T05:05:04Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-11-29T05:05:04Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2021-11"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Adolescents","Bipolar Disorder","Cannabis","Neurocognitive","Neurofunctional","Neurostructural"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/1807/125872"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) have high rates of cannabis use, and cannabis use is associated with increased symptom severity and treatment resistance in BD. However, few studies have examined the association of cannabis use with neurostructure, neurofunction, and/or neurocognition in adolescent BD. As societal perceptions of cannabis benefits are increasing alongside decreasing perception of harm, addressing this gap is imperative. This thesis examines the neurostructural, neurofunctional, and neurocognitive correlates of cannabis use in adolescent BD. The over-arching hypothesis was that cannabis use in adolescents with BD would be associated with brain structure, brain function, and neurocognition. Structural and functional neuroimaging was completed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Vertex-wise analysis revealed significant group effects on brain structure in frontal and parietal regions. Adolescents with BD and cannabis use (BDCB+) exhibited larger volume and surface area (SA) in parietal regions, and smaller thickness in frontal regions, relative to healthy controls (HC) and adolescents with BD and no cannabis use (BDCB−). BDCB− had smaller volume, SA, and thickness in parietal and frontal regions relative to HC. Resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) seed-to-voxel analyses revealed three significant clusters. First, rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens (NAc) seed and left superior parietal lobe was negative in the BDCB- group and positive in the HC group. Second, rsFC between the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) seed and right lateral occipital cortex was positive in the BDCB+ and negative in the BDCB- and HC groups. Finally, rsFC between the right OFC seed and right occipital pole was positive in the BDCB+ group and negative in the BDCB- group. Neurocognition was examined using a computerized automated test battery. There were between-group differences on tests of visuo-spatial working memory and sustained attention. Working memory scores were significantly impaired in BDCB+ relative to HC, and sustained attention was significantly impaired in BDCB- relative to HC. This thesis emphasizes the importance of integrating brain-based research to further elucidate clinical and behavioural attributes that manifest in adolescents with mood disorders. This study is the first step in understanding the brain-based origins of clinically relevant symptoms associated with cannabis use in adolescents with BD."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Neurostructural, Neurofunctional, and Neurocognitive Correlates of Cannabis Use in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Goldstein, Benjamin I"],"dc:contributor.department":["Pharmacology"],"dc:creator":["Sultan, Alysha Anne"],"dc:date":["2021-11"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2022-11-29T05:05:04Z"],"dc:date.available":["2022-11-29T05:05:04Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2021-11"],"dc:description.abstract":["Adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) have high rates of cannabis use, and cannabis use is associated with increased symptom severity and treatment resistance in BD. However, few studies have examined the association of cannabis use with neurostructure, neurofunction, and/or neurocognition in adolescent BD. As societal perceptions of cannabis benefits are increasing alongside decreasing perception of harm, addressing this gap is imperative. This thesis examines the neurostructural, neurofunctional, and neurocognitive correlates of cannabis use in adolescent BD. The over-arching hypothesis was that cannabis use in adolescents with BD would be associated with brain structure, brain function, and neurocognition. Structural and functional neuroimaging was completed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Vertex-wise analysis revealed significant group effects on brain structure in frontal and parietal regions. Adolescents with BD and cannabis use (BDCB+) exhibited larger volume and surface area (SA) in parietal regions, and smaller thickness in frontal regions, relative to healthy controls (HC) and adolescents with BD and no cannabis use (BDCB−). BDCB− had smaller volume, SA, and thickness in parietal and frontal regions relative to HC. Resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) seed-to-voxel analyses revealed three significant clusters. First, rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens (NAc) seed and left superior parietal lobe was negative in the BDCB- group and positive in the HC group. Second, rsFC between the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) seed and right lateral occipital cortex was positive in the BDCB+ and negative in the BDCB- and HC groups. Finally, rsFC between the right OFC seed and right occipital pole was positive in the BDCB+ group and negative in the BDCB- group. Neurocognition was examined using a computerized automated test battery. There were between-group differences on tests of visuo-spatial working memory and sustained attention. Working memory scores were significantly impaired in BDCB+ relative to HC, and sustained attention was significantly impaired in BDCB- relative to HC. This thesis emphasizes the importance of integrating brain-based research to further elucidate clinical and behavioural attributes that manifest in adolescents with mood disorders. This study is the first step in understanding the brain-based origins of clinically relevant symptoms associated with cannabis use in adolescents with BD."],"dc:description.degree":["Ph.D."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1807/125872"],"dc:subject":["Adolescents","Bipolar Disorder","Cannabis","Neurocognitive","Neurofunctional","Neurostructural"],"dc:title":["Neurostructural, Neurofunctional, and Neurocognitive Correlates of Cannabis Use in Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:27:58Z"}