Overview
- Washington State University researchers report in Neuropsychopharmacology that rats with higher resting corticosterone were far more likely to self-administer cannabis vapor.
- Rats completed one-hour daily sessions over three weeks, nose-poking to trigger three-second cannabis vapor deliveries as researchers recorded self-administration counts.
- Baseline stress levels predicted use, whereas hormone levels measured after an acute stressor showed no significant link to cannabis-seeking behavior.
- Lower cognitive flexibility was associated with higher motivation to obtain cannabis, with a weaker pattern also tying high morning corticosterone to low endocannabinoid levels.
- Authors say the findings identify potential pre-use markers for future prevention strategies, while noting the results are correlational and derived from an animal model.