Cognitive Neuroscience3 Active Trials

Nadia Solowij, PhD

Professor of Psychology; Director, Cannabis Wollongong Research Group

University of Wollongong · Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

h-index 54

12,600+ citations

185+ publications

3 active trials

PubMed Profile ORCID Lab Website

Biography

Nadia Solowij is a leading international researcher on the cognitive and neurobiological effects of cannabis use, with particular expertise in the long-term effects of heavy cannabis use on brain structure and function. Her longitudinal studies have provided some of the most comprehensive evidence on cannabis-related cognitive impairment, including the effects of age of onset, duration of use, and cannabis potency. Solowij has also investigated whether CBD can protect against THC-induced cognitive harm.

Key Contributions

1Demonstrated dose-dependent cognitive impairment from long-term cannabis use in landmark longitudinal studies
2Showed that age of first use is a critical determinant of long-term cognitive outcomes
3Provided evidence that CBD may protect against THC-induced hippocampal damage
4Characterized the neurobiological correlates of cannabis use disorder using fMRI and structural MRI
5Developed the Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT)

Selected Publications

Cognitive functioning of long-term heavy cannabis users seeking treatment

1,243 citations

JAMA · 2002

Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of 102 long-term heavy cannabis users seeking treatment, demonstrating persistent deficits in attention, learning, and memory that correlated with duration and frequency of use.

DOI: 10.1001/jama.287.9.1123

Cannabidiol does not dampen responses to emotional stimuli in healthy adults

187 citations

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · 2019

Investigation of CBD effects on emotional processing and cognitive function, contributing to understanding of CBD's potential neuroprotective role against THC-induced harm.

DOI: 10.1089/can.2018.0014

View all publications on PubMed