Are you ready to test yourself? Below are 3 mini-quizzes, each providing information from a published article on marijuana and the developing brain. Your task is to figure out which one (or ones) exemplify scientific method. Think about the scientific cycle, and how it relates to the published article. Remember, most published articles based on scientific method will follow the same organizational structure.
Note: All of the references for the articles below are formatted in APA style, which you will need to learn how to do in your lab write-ups. Visit the APA tab on this guide for more information.
Web Site #1: Muir Wood
Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services is a residential treatment facility for adolescent boys in California. While some of the content is educational, its main purpose is to promote its services (note the prominence of insurance coverage and admissions, as well as the testimonials). The article cites its sources (one is a government research institute, the other a scientific journal), but several of the links in the article are broken. There is no date on the article or the web site, and the one image related to the article doesn't load. All of the links to further reading are for pages on this web site, rather than external sites. We would probably be better of using the sources cited in the article directly, rather than citing this article.
Web Site #2: NIDA
This collection of facts, videos, and other publications provides answers to some basic questions about marijuana, aimed at teens, parents and teachers. It is provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, a highly respected government agency that carries out and funds research in the United States. Sources are cited through footnotes, and the information seems well-organized, with no broken links or images. There is no date on the site, but the cited sources are relatively recent (data on marijuana use is from 2016). We would consider using this site for facts and statistics, but we would probably refer to other sources if we wanted to discuss the chemical structure or biological effects of marijuana.
Web Site #3: APA
It's not obvious, but this article appears in a publication called Monitor on Psychology. It is labeled a "feature" article, and it cites both an author and the date it was published. According to the author's web site, she is a freelance health and science writer (aka "journalist") who appears to be a frequent contributor on the APA site (119 articles). The American Psychological Association (APA) is a well-known (have you heard of APA style?) and well-respected organization for psychologists and researchers. This article summarizes the current state of research on the topic (including open questions) and references several research studies and researchers. It is written in accessible (e.g., non-scientific) language. We would probably use it as a good summary of the available research, but we would also probably look for and read some of the more relevant research studies referenced in the article.
Reference
Barcott, B., & Scherer, M. (2015, May). The great pot experiment. Time, 185(19), 38-45. http://time.com/
Abstract
Legalization keeps rolling ahead. But because of years of government roadblocks on research, we don’t know nearly enough about the dangers of marijuana—or the benefits.
Outline of Article (Section Headings)
1.Beyond Reefer Madness
2.The Cannabinoid System
3.The Healing Possibilities
4.This Is a Rat on Drugs
Ready to find out what we think? Check out our response here.
Reference
Battistella, G., Fornari, E., Annoni, J.M., Chtioui, H., Dao, K., Fabritius, M., ... Giroud, C. (2014). Long-term effects of cannabis on brain structure. Neuropsychopharmacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 39(9), 2041-2048. doi:10.1038/npp.2014.67
Abstract
The dose-dependent toxicity of the main psychoactive component of cannabis in brain regions rich in cannabinoid CB1 receptors is well known in animal studies. However, research in humans does not show common findings across studies regarding the brain regions that are affected after long-term exposure to cannabis. In the present study, we investigate (using Voxel-based Morphometry) gray matter changes in a group of regular cannabis smokers in comparison with a group of occasional smokers matched by the years of cannabis use. We provide evidence that regular cannabis use is associated with gray matter volume reduction in the medial temporal cortex, temporal pole, parahippocampal gyrus, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex; these regions are rich in cannabinoid CB1 receptors and functionally associated with motivational, emotional, and affective processing. Furthermore, these changes correlate with the frequency of cannabis use in the 3 months before inclusion in the study. The age of onset of drug use also influences the magnitude of these changes. Significant gray matter volume reduction could result either from heavy consumption unrelated to the age of onset or instead from recreational cannabis use initiated at an adolescent age. In contrast, the larger gray matter volume detected in the cerebellum of regular smokers without any correlation with the monthly consumption of cannabis may be related to developmental (ontogenic) processes that occur in adolescence.
Outline of Article (Section Headings)
Ready to find out what we think? Check out our response here.
Reference
Jacobus, J., Bava, S., Cohen-Zion, M., Mahmood, O., & Tapert, S.F. (2009). Mini-review: Functional consequences of marijuana use in adolescents. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 92(4), 559-565. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2009.04.001
Abstract:
Nearly half of 12th graders have tried marijuana, and 6% use daily. This paper reviews studies on neuropsychological functioning, brain structure, brain function, and subjective and objective measures of sleep in relation to adolescent marijuana use. Adolescents who use marijuana heavily tend to show disadvantaged attention, learning, and processing speed; subtle abnormalities in brain structure; increased activation during cognitive tasks despite intact performance; and compromised objective indicators of sleep quality. Some abnormalities appear to persist beyond a month of abstinence, but may resolve within three months if cessation is maintained. Recommendations for future studies include characterizing these indices in youth prior to the onset of marijuana use then examining change after chronic use has started, and using large samples of youth with varying degrees of involvement with marijuana as well as alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs to characterize the interactive influences on neurocognition and neural health.
Outline of Article (Section Headings)
Ready to find out what we think? Check out our response here.