Neurophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Combined Cannabis Concentrates and Alcohol: A Naturalistic EEG Study

Neurophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Combined Cannabis Concentrates and Alcohol: A Naturalistic EEG Study | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 2 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Neurophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Combined Cannabis Concentrates and Alcohol: A Naturalistic EEG Study Authors : Eleftherios M. Hetelekides , Patricia Davies 0000-0003-0189-6809 [email protected] , Mark A. Prince 0000-0002-8848-0568 , William J. Gavin 0000-0002-2868-477X , and Hollis C. Karoly Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174886798.87461651/v1 325 views 112 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Increasingly potent formulations of concentrated cannabis products containing high levels of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are being consumed along with alcohol. This combination is known to acutely impair cognitive and psychomotor abilities, although few if any studies have evaluated alcohol and cannabis co-use using neural measures. This feasibility study explored the acute effects of co-intoxication on behavioral performance and brain activity, measured via electroencephalography (EEG), during a performance monitoring task administered three times over a 4.5-hour period. Participants (N=17, 65% male) were heavy-drinking community members (age M=31.7 years; SD=10.27) who also regularly use cannabis. EEG recordings were made while participants completed a speeded visual-flanker task at baseline (sober) before consuming a standardized dose of alcohol and a cannabis concentrate product, followed by EEG recordings 1-hour (intoxicated) and 4-hours post co-consumption (recovery). Recordings were processed to obtain six event-related potential components: stimulus-locked (N1, P2, N2, P3) and response-locked, error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe). Repeated Measures ANOVAs revealed that behavioral measures at the intoxicated timepoint showed an increase in errors (p <.005; η 2 = .35) and significant decrease in response time (RT) (p<.001; η 2 p = .50) compared to sober and recovery periods. Measures of brain activity also demonstrated significant change across time with largest amplitudes when sober, smaller amplitudes when intoxicated, then an increase in amplitude to near sober levels at recovery for stimulus-locked components (P2, N2, P3) and response-locked components (ERN and Pe). Thus, compared to sober and recovery periods, the behavior at the intoxicated timepoint revealed significantly greater impulsivity (RT) leading to significantly higher error rates while measures of cognitive processing (i.e., decision-making, error detection, performance monitoring/adaptation) showed significantly diminished levels of brain activity. Performance and neurophysiology measures remained diminished at recovery compared to baseline. Understanding neurocognitive functioning during co-intoxication may provide insights into specific cognitive processes that may impact function in everyday activities such as driving. Supplementary Material File (neurophysiological and behavioral effects of combined cannabis and alcohol final.docx) Download 1.39 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 02 June 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Authors Affiliations Eleftherios M. Hetelekides Colorado State University Department of Psychology View all articles by this author Patricia Davies 0000-0003-0189-6809 [email protected] Colorado State University Department of Occupational Therapy View all articles by this author Mark A. Prince 0000-0002-8848-0568 Keck School of Medicine View all articles by this author William J. Gavin 0000-0002-2868-477X Colorado State University View all articles by this author Hollis C. Karoly University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 325 views 112 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Eleftherios M. Hetelekides, Patricia Davies, Mark A. Prince, et al. Neurophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Combined Cannabis Concentrates and Alcohol: A Naturalistic EEG Study. Authorea . 02 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174886798.87461651/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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