Study Finds Regular Cannabis Users Have Greater Understanding of Others’ Emotions
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research has revealed that regular cannabis users possess a heightened sense of empathy, leading researchers to suggest potential therapeutic benefits and positive effects on interpersonal relationships.
Neurobiologists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Conduct Study
The study, conducted by a team of neurobiologists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, compared empathy levels between a group of 85 regular cannabis users and 51 non-users. Using a 33-item test and MRI images, the researchers found that cannabis users scored higher on the Emotional Comprehension scales, which measure the ability to recognize and understand others’ emotions.
Cannabis Users Show Higher Scores in Emotional Comprehension
According to the authors, the written test “analyzes the empathic ability of the subject, assessing both cognitive and affective empathy.” This ability is divided into specific areas or “subscales,” such as the capacity to put oneself in another’s shoes and the ability to recognize and understand others’ emotions.
ACC Region of the Brain Plays a Role in Empathy and is Prone to Effects of Cannabis
The study also noted that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region of the brain heavily involved in empathy, is prone to the effects of cannabis consumption. The researchers believe that the differences in emotional comprehension scores and brain functional connectivity among regular cannabis users could be related to their use of the plant.
Further Research Needed to Understand Potential Association Between Cannabis Use and Empathy
While the results of this study suggest a potential association between cannabis use and empathy, the researchers caution that further research is needed to fully understand the interactions, as other factors may be at play. They also acknowledge that the study’s inability to show causation and the use of self-reported empathy responses are limitations.
Caveats to Consider
The authors also note that the differences in empathy levels between cannabis users and non-users could have existed before the users started consuming cannabis. Additionally, the study did not use biochemical markers to measure empathy and the cannabis used by participants was likely of lower potency than products found at state-legal retailers in the United States.
