The neural correlates of marijuana addiction: differences in the processing of drug-related and emotional pictures between addicted versus healthy controls

This project aims to understand the electrophysiology of emotion and drug stimulus processing in marijuana addicts relative to healthy participants. A literature review of emotion processing is provided, and roles for modifications of the Stroop task in exploring this phenomenon are discussed. Current findings related to understanding the neural correlates of addiction behaviour are also reviewed and the structure and function of the OFC and ACC are summarized. This review provides a basis for the current study, where EEG is used in conjunction with a modified Stroop paradigm to understand the timing of neural events associated with cue reactivity to salient visual stimuli. The method of the current study is presented, and the results of the current project are described. Behavioural data regarding Stroop interference produced by the various categories of stimuli and the degree of self-reported craving experienced by participants during the paradigm are examined, as well as the electrophysiological data obtained from both groups. Lastly, the implications of these findings and future directions that will help to better understand the electrophysiology of addiction are outlined.